The FDA has approved daprodustat (Jesduvroq – GSK), a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI), for oral treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults who have been on dialysis for at least 4 months. It is the first HIF-PHI and the first oral drug to be approved in the US for this indication.

The investigational monoclonal antibody sotrovimab (VIR-7831; GSK/Vir Biotechnology) has been granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients ≥12 years old who weigh ≥40 kg and are at high risk of progressing to severe disease, including hospitalization and death.1 Two other monoclonal antibody regimens are authorized for the same indication: casirivimab (REGN10933) and imdevimab (REGN10987) administered together, and bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555) and etesevimab (LYCoV016) administered together. The FDA revoked its EUA...

In February 2021, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the investigational monoclonal antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab (Lilly) for use together to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in persons ≥12 years old who weigh ≥40 kg and are at high risk of progression to severe disease or hospitalization. The FDA has now expanded this EUA to allow use of the antibodies together for post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in such persons if they are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or are unlikely to have an adequate immune response to full vaccination and have...

The FDA has required a new warning in the labels of prescription and over-the-counter products containing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) advising against their use during pregnancy beginning at 20 weeks’ gestation because of a risk of renal dysfunction in the fetus that could lead to low amniotic fluid levels (oligohydramnios) and neonatal renal impairment. NSAID labels previously warned against use of the drugs beginning at 30 weeks' gestation because of a risk for premature closure of the ductus arteriosus and persistent neonatal pulmonary hypertension

The FDA has approved Soaanz (Sarfez), a new formulation of the loop diuretic torsemide, for treatment of edema associated with heart failure or renal disease in adults. Torsemide has been available generically for years for treatment of hypertension and treatment of edema due to heart failure, renal disease, or hepatic disease. According to the manufacturer, Soaanz tablets are formulated to provide a gradual and sustained diuresis, lowering the risk of excessive urination and hypokalemia.

The FDA has required changes in the labels of all testosterone products to reflect new data on their cardiovascular effects. The updated labels will no longer include a boxed warning about an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, but will contain a new warning about an increase in blood pressure.

The FDA has approved the intravenously administered synthetic vasopressin analog terlipressin (Terlivaz – Mallinckrodt) to improve kidney function in adults with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and a rapid decline in kidney function. Terlipressin is the first drug to be approved for this indication in the US; it has been available in Europe and elsewhere for year

The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi/Regeneron) for treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in adults who had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or cannot tolerate a corticosteroid taper. Sarilumab is the first biologic drug to be approved for treatment of PMR; it was previously approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Gout

On April 13, 2021, the FDA and CDC advised suspending use of the Johnson & Johnson adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine while the agencies investigate 6 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and thrombocytopenia that occurred following administration of the vaccine. In an April 14 emergency meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended continuing the suspension until more data become available. About 7 million people in the US have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.