The B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS)-specific inhibitor belimumab (Benlysta – GSK), which was approved earlier for treatment of active, autoantibody-positive, nonrenal, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), has now been approved for use in addition to standard therapy for treatment of active lupus nephritis in adults. Belimumab is the first drug to be approved in the US for treatment of both SLE and lupus nephritis.

The FDA has approved an expansion of the peripheral artery disease (PAD) indication for the oral direct factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban (Xarelto – Janssen) to include patients who have recently undergone a lower extremity revascularization procedure for symptomatic PAD (see Table 1). Rivaroxaban is the first direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) to be approved for use in patients with PAD.

Three extended-release injectable formulations of second-generation antipsychotic drugs — two of risperidone (Rykindo, Uzedy) and one of aripiprazole (Abilify Asimtufii) — have been approved by the FDA for treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Rykindo and Abilify Asimtufii are also approved for maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder in adults. Other extended-release injectable formulations of risperidone and aripiprazole have been available in the US for years (see Table 1).

Avmapki Fakzynja Co-Pack (Verastem), a combination of the kinase inhibitors avutometinib and defactinib, has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of KRAS-mutated recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer in women who had previously received systemic therapy. Neither drug is approved for use as monotherapy for any indication. Avmapki Fakzynja is the first treatment to be approved in the US for this indication.

The FDA has approved acoltremon 0.003% ophthalmic solution (Tryptyr – Alcon) for treatment of dry eye disease. Acoltremon is the first transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) thermoreceptor agonist to be approved in the US for this indication.

Sunvozertinib (Zegfrovy – Dizal), an oral kinase inhibitor, has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations who had disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Zongertinib (Hernexeos – Boehringer Ingelheim), an oral kinase inhibitor, has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) tyrosine kinase domain activating mutations who had received prior systemic therapy. It is the first oral targeted therapy to be approved in the US for this indication. The intravenous HER2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate famtrastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) was approved for the same indication...

The oral fixed-dose combination of the neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan (Entresto – Novartis) was approved in 2015 to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with chronic heart failure (NYHA Class II-IV) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF; LVEF...

The FDA has restricted its Emergency Use Authorization for the adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) to adults who are unable or unwilling to receive another COVID-19 vaccine. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) and Moderna (Spikevax) are preferred for all persons without a contraindication.

The FDA has approved ustekinumab-auub (Wezlana – Amgen), an interchangeable biosimilar product similar to the interleukin-12 and -23 antagonist Stelara, for treatment of the same indications as Stelara (see Table 1). Wezlana is the first Stelara biosimilar to be approved in the US.