The FDA has approved ferric citrate (Auryxia – Keryx), an oral phosphate binder, for treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis. It is the second iron-based phosphate binder to be approved in the US, and the first that causes significant systemic absorption of iron. Auryxia is not FDA-approved for treatment of iron deficiency anemia.

The FDA has approved nusinersen (Spinraza – Biogen) for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a hereditary neurodegenerative disease that occurs in about one in every 10,000 births. It is the first drug to be approved in the US for this indication.

The FDA has approved Haegarda (CSL Bering), a human plasma-derived C1 esterase inhibitor (C1INH), for prophylaxis against hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in adolescents and adults. Haegarda is the fourth C1INH to be approved by the FDA and the second to be approved for HAE prophylaxis. Unlike the other C1INHs, Haegarda is self-administered subcutaneously rather than intravenously.

The FDA has approved ibalizumab-uiyk (Trogarzo – Theratechnologies/TaiMed), a CD4-directed monoclonal antibody, for IV treatment of multidrug-resistant HIV-1 (MDR-HIV) infection in heavily antiretroviral-experienced adults with treatment failure on their current regimen. Ibalizumab-uiyk is the first biologic drug to be approved by the FDA for treatment of HIV-1 infection.

Caplacizumab-yhdp (Cablivi – Sanofi /Genzyme), a von Willebrand factor-directed antibody fragment, has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapy for treatment of immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP; formerly called acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura [aTTP]) in adults. It is the first drug to be approved in the US for this indication.

The FDA has approved ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Carvykti – Janssen), a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed genetically-modified cellular product, for treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in adults who received ≥4 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory drug, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Carvykti is an individualized cellular product prepared from the patient's own T cells, which are genetically modified to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) and then infused back into the patient. Idecabtagene...

Colchicine (Colcrys, and others), which has been available in the US for decades for prophylaxis and treatment of gout flares and other indications in oral formulations that contain 0.6 mg of the drug, has now been approved in 0.5-mg tablets as Lodoco (Agepha) to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular death in adults with established atherosclerotic disease or multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Acne is common among adolescents and adults. Guidelines for treatment of acne were last published by the American Academy of Dermatology in 2016.

The FDA has warned that prolonged use of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) can lead to hypomagnesemia.1 Normal serum concentrations of magnesium are 0.7-1.0 mmol/L. About 30 cases of severe hypomagnesemia (<0.5 mmol/L) have been reported in long-term PPI users; when the PPI was stopped, serum magnesium levels returned to normal in less than 2 weeks.2-5 The exact mechanism is unknown, but in some patients PPIs apparently interfere with active transport of magnesium across the intestinal wall or cause excessive loss into the intestinal lumen.6 Hypomagnesemia is often accompanied by hypocalcemia...

Essure (Bayer) is the only nonsurgical, permanent contraceptive available in the US. The coil-like devices are placed hysteroscopically in both fallopian tubes and, after several months, scar tissue causes tubal occlusion.1 In 2016, the FDA required Bayer to revise the device's labeling to include a patient decision checklist and a boxed warning about the risks of uterine and fallopian tube perforation, migration of the device to the abdominal or pelvic cavity, persistent pain, and hypersensitivity reactions. Some women were apparently not being informed of these risks before implantation of...