The FDA has approved the oral multikinase inhibitor lenvatinib (Lenvima – Eisai) for treatment of locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, differentiated thyroid cancer (papillary or follicular) refractory to radioactive iodine treatment.

The oral kinase inhibitor pemigatinib (Pemazyre – Incyte) has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusions or other rearrangements. Pemigatinib is the first drug to be approved in the US for this indication.

Odevixibat (Bylvay – Albireo), an oral ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of pruritus in patients ≥3 months old with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). It is the first drug to be approved in the US for this indication.

Tovorafenib (Ojemda – Day One), a type II RAF kinase inhibitor, has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of patients ≥6 months old with relapsed or refractory pediatric low-grade glioma harboring a BRAF fusion or rearrangement or a BRAF V600 mutation. Tovorafenib is the first systemic treatment to be approved in the US for pediatric low-grade gliomas with BRAF fusions. Accelerated approval of tovorafenib was based on response rates and duration of response.

The FDA has approved talimogene laherparepvec (Imlygic – Amgen), a genetically modified herpes simplex virus, for intralesional treatment of unresectable cutaneous, subcutaneous, and nodal lesions in patients with melanoma that has recurred following surgery. It is the first oncolytic virotherapy to become available in the US.

The FDA has approved an extended-release intramuscular suspension formulation of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist triptorelin (Triptodur – Arbor/Debiopharm) for twice-yearly treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP) in children ≥2 years old. Triptorelin has been available in the US for years as Trelstar for palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Before the approval of Triptodur, Trelstar was used off-label for treatment of CPP.

Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa – Amarin), the ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), has been approved by the FDA for use as an adjunct to maximally tolerated statin therapy to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with hypertriglyceridemia (≥150 mg/dL) who have either established cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes and ≥2 additional risk factors for CVD. It is the only omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) product to be approved in the US for this indication. Icosapent ethyl and two other omega-3 PUFA prescription products (Lovaza, Epanova),...

The FDA has approved the marketing of a new device for delivering lidocaine to the skin of children undergoing a venipuncture or intravenous (IV) line placement. Zingo (Anesiva) is a powder intradermal injection system.

The FDA has granted accelerated approval to copanlisib (Aliqopa – Bayer), an intravenously administered phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, for treatment of adults with relapsed follicular lymphoma who have received at least two prior systemic therapies. Follicular lymphoma is a common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Copanlisib is the second PI3K inhibitor to be approved for this indication; idelalisib (Zydelig), which is administered orally twice daily, was the first.

Betibeglogene autotemcel (Zynteglo — Bluebird Bio), an autologous lentiviral vector cell-based gene therapy, has been approved by the FDA for one-time treatment of transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia in children and adults. Exagamglogene autotemcel (Casgevy), a cell-based gene therapy that uses CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, was approved earlier this year for the same indication in patients ≥12 years old.