Clevidipine (Cleviprex - The Medicines Company), a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB), has been approved by the FDA for intravenous (IV) use in lowering high blood pressure. It is the second IV CCB to be marketed in the US; nicardipine has been available in an IV formulation (Cardene IV) for more than 10 years. Like IV nicardipine, clevidipine will probably be used mainly for urgent treatment of hypertension in intensive care units, operating rooms and emergency departments.

The FDA has approved the oral, once-daily, second-generation antipsychotic brexpiprazole (Rexulti – Otsuka/Lundbeck) for treatment of schizophrenia and as an adjunct to antidepressants for treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Aripiprazole (Abilify), a structurally similar second-generation antipsychotic also comarketed by Otsuka (with BMS), recently became available generically.

Smoking tobacco remains the primary preventable cause of death in the US. Smoking cessation often requires both pharmacotherapy and behavioral support.

Consumption of alcohol has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) defines alcohol use disorder (AUD; previously called alcohol dependence) as meeting ≥2 of the 11 criteria listed in Table 1 in the past year. The lifetime prevalence of AUD in the US population has been estimated to be about 30%. Despite this high prevalence and the associated morbidity, mortality, and costs, only 3 drugs are FDA-approved for treatment of the disorder.