Secukinumab (Cosentyx – Novartis), an injectable human interleukin (IL)-17A antagonist, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. It is the first IL-17 inhibitor to be approved for any indication in the US.

Eohilia (Takeda), an oral suspension formulation of the corticosteroid budesonide, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in patients ≥11 years old. It is the first oral drug to be approved in the US for this indication. The subcutaneously injected interleukin (IL)-4 receptor antagonist dupilumab (Dupixent) is approved for treatment of EoE in patients ≥1 year old who weigh ≥15 kg.

Romiplostim (Nplate - Amgen), a recombinant fusion protein injected subcutaneously, and eltrombopag (Promacta - GlaxoSmithKline), a non-peptide taken orally, have been approved by the FDA for treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) refractory to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins and/or splenectomy.

Homeopathic drugs characteristically consist of very large dilutions of "proven" substances. Serial dilutions of 1:10 are designated by the Roman numeral X. ColciGel (Gensco), a prescription homeopathic gel containing a 10,000-fold dilution of colchicine (colchicinum 4X), is now being marketed for topical treatment and prophylaxis of gout.

The FDA has approved the interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta inhibitor canakinumab (Ilaris – Novartis) for treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA; formerly called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or Still’s disease) in children ≥2 years old. Canakinumab was approved earlier for treatment of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). Tocilizumab (Actemra), an interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitor that has been available since 2010 for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in adults, was also recently approved by the FDA for sJIA. Canakinumab is the only IL-1 inhibitor approved...

View the Table: Some Drugs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The injectable interleukin (IL)-23 antagonist risankizumab-rzaa (Skyrizi – Abbvie) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD) in adults. Risankizumab was approved earlier for treatment of plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

The interleukin (IL)-23 antagonist guselkumab (Tremfya – Janssen Biotech) has now been approved by the FDA for treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults; it was approved earlier for treatment of plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Guselkumab is the third IL-23 antagonist to be approved in the US for treatment of UC; risankizumab (Skyrizi) and mirikizumab (Omvoh) were approved earlier.

The investigational anti-complement component 5a (C5a) antibody vilobelimab (Gohibic – InflaRx) has been granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for IV treatment of hospitalized adults with COVID-19 beginning within 48 hours after invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is started. Vilobelimab is the first anti-C5a antibody to become available in the US.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), referred to collectively as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are chronic immune-mediated inflammatory conditions. Guidelines for treatment of UC and CD have been updated in recent years