The oral sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator etrasimod (Velsipity – Pfizer) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults. It is the second oral S1P receptor modulator to be approved in the US for this indication; ozanimod (Zeposia) was the first.

Ferric carboxymaltose (Injectafer – American Regent) is now FDA-approved for IV treatment of iron deficiency in adults with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II/III heart failure to improve exercise capacity. Iron deficiency is present in approximately 30% of patients with heart failure; it has been associated with reduced quality of life and increased hospitalization and mortality. Injectafer is the first IV iron preparation to be approved for this indication. It was previously approved for treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children and adults.

The FDA has approved the oral interleukin (IL)-23 receptor antagonist icotrokinra (Icotyde – Janssen) for treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients ≥12 years old who are candidates for systemic treatment or phototherapy. Icotrokinra is the first oral targeted interleukin blocker to become available in the US.

The FDA has approved a 1-mg epinephrine nasal spray (neffy - ARS Pharma) for emergency treatment of type 1 hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis in patients ≥4 years old who weigh 15 to <30 kg. A 2-mg formulation of neffy was approved in 2024 for use in patients who weigh ≥30 kg.

The FDA has approved Apretude (ViiV Healthcare), an IM extended-release (ER) formulation of the integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) cabotegravir, for use every 2 months to prevent sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in at-risk adolescents and adults. Apretude is the first ER formulation to be FDA-approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of HIV-1 infection.

Primary hypothyroidism is usually the result of Hashimoto's (autoimmune) thyroiditis, thyroidectomy, or radioactive iodine therapy. Treatment of hypothyroidism with replacement doses of thyroid hormone is usually lifelong. Levothyroxine (LT4; synthetic thyroxine; Synthroid, and others) is the drug of choice.1

The interleukin (IL)-23 antagonist guselkumab (Tremfya – Janssen Biotech) has now been approved by the FDA for treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults; it was approved earlier for treatment of plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Guselkumab is the third IL-23 antagonist to be approved in the US for treatment of UC; risankizumab (Skyrizi) and mirikizumab (Omvoh) were approved earlier.

The FDA has approved an IV formulation of the epoxide antibacterial drug fosfomycin (Contepo – Meitheal) for treatment of adults with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) caused by susceptible isolates of Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Oral fosfomycin has been available in the US for years for treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections. IV fosfomycin has been available in other countries for decades.

The FDA has approved Widaplik (Azurity), a fixed-dose combination of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan, the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker amlodipine, and the thiazide-like diuretic indapamide, for treatment of hypertension in adults. Telmisartan, amlodipine, and indapamide are also available alone and in various combinations for treatment of hypertension. Two three-drug combinations containing an ARB, amlodipine, and the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (Exforge HCT and Tribenzor) have been available for years (see Table 1).

Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is frequently associated with other atopic disorders such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and food allergy. It commonly presents in infancy and early childhood and has a relapsing course, often improving by adolescence, but sometimes persisting into or first appearing in adulthood or even old age. Guidelines for the treatment of AD have recently been updated.