The injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide (Ozempic – Novo Nordisk) has been approved by the FDA to reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease, and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to be approved in the US for this indication.

View the Comparison Table: Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease

Adults with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2 are considered overweight. Those with a BMI ≥30 are considered obese. The initial recommendation for any weight loss effort is to achieve a 5-10% reduction in weight, which has been associated with a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Diet, exercise, and behavior modification are the preferred methods for losing weight, but long-term weight maintenance can be difficult. Several drugs and devices are FDA-approved for weight reduction and maintenance of weight...

A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is generally used for initial treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). A serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, and others), and mirtazapine (Remeron, and others) are reasonable alternatives. Improvement in symptoms can occur within the first two weeks of treatment with these drugs, but a substantial benefit may not be achieved for 4-8 weeks.

The FDA has approved two new drugs for treatment of previously-treated unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer: fam-trastuzumab deruxtecannxki (Enhertu – Daiichi-Sankyo/AstraZeneca), an IV HER2-directed monoclonal antibody linked to the topoisomerase I inhibitor DXd, and tucatinib (Tukysa – Seagen), an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

The FDA has approved opicapone (Ongentys – Neurocrine), a peripherally-acting reversible catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor, for oral use as an adjunct to carbidopa/levodopa in adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who experience "off" episodes. It is the third COMT inhibitor to be approved for this indication; tolcapone (Tasmar, and generics) and entacapone (Comtan, and generics) were approved earlier. Opicapone has been available in Europe since 2016.

The FDA has approved tirzepatide (Mounjaro – Lilly), a peptide hormone with activity at both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors, to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide, which is injected subcutaneously once weekly, is the first dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist to become available in the US. Selective GIP receptor agonists are not available in the US; GLP-1 receptor agonists have been available for years.

The injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide, previously approved by the FDA as Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, has now been approved in a higher dose as Wegovy (Novo Nordisk) for chronic weight management in adults with or without type 2 diabetes who have a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 or a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 and ≥1 weight-related comorbidity (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia). An oral formulation of semaglutide...

View the Comparison Table: Some Lipid-Lowering Drugs

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the world. Risk factor modification, anticoagulation, rhythm control, and rate control are the four pillars of its management. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines on management of AF were updated recently.