The FDA has approved Altuviiio (Sanofi), a von Willebrand Factor (VWF)-independent, recombinant factor VIII concentrate, for routine prophylaxis, on-demand treatment to control bleeding episodes, and perioperative management of bleeding in children and adults with hemophilia A. The manufacturer claims that Altuviiio, which was previously called efanesoctocog alfa, delivers normal to near-normal factor VIII levels for most of the week with once-weekly intravenous dosing.

Toripalimab-tpzi (Loqtorzi – Coherus Biosciences), a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody, has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine for first-line treatment of recurrent locally advanced or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma and for use as monotherapy for treatment of recurrent unresectable or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma in adults with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. It is the first immune checkpoint inhibitor to be approved in the US for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The oral kinase inhibitor capivasertib (Truqap – AstraZeneca), a first-in-class AKT inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with the selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) fulvestrant (Faslodex, and generics) for treatment of hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in adults with one or more PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN-alterations who had disease progression on at least one endocrine-based regimen for metastatic disease or recurrence on or within 12 months of completing...

The FDA has approved the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor repotrectinib (Augtyro – BMS) for treatment of locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults. Repotrectinib is the third oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor to be approved for this indication in the US; crizotinib (Xalkori) and entrectinib (Rozlytrek) were approved earlier.

Resmetirom (Rezdiffra – Madrigal), a thyroid hormone receptor-beta agonist, has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of noncirrhotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with moderate to advanced fibrosis in adults. NASH has recently been renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Resmetirom is the first drug to be approved in the US for this indication.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, but cognitive decline also occurs in other neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.

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

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) and the etonogestrel implant are the most effective reversible contraceptive methods available. Hormonal oral contraceptives, patches, rings, and injectables are also effective in preventing pregnancy. When used alone, barrier and behavioral methods generally have higher failure rates than other methods (see Table 1). Selection of a contraceptive method is usually based on patient-specific factors and personal preference

In our article on Drugs for Chronic Insomnia, we said there is little evidence that antidepressants such as trazodone, mirtazapine, or amitriptyline are effective in treating insomnia not associated with depression. We received a comment from a reader who has prescribed the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline for insomnia, particularly for patients with headache disorders, and finds that most patients are satisfied with the treatment.

The oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor baricitinib (Olumiant – Lilly), which was previously approved by the FDA for treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis and treatment of COVID-19 in certain hospitalized adults, has now been approved for treatment of severe alopecia areata in adults. Baricitinib is the first systemic treatment to be approved in the US for this indication.