Innovation and the addition of new drugs means new treatment options and advances in healthcare. Here are 6 recent FDA-approved medicines for common illnesses in primary care. Details of the drugs are explained in this article.

Recently six new FDA-approved medications have been rolled out for common illnesses found in primary care in 2021.

1. HFrEF, or Heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction

Verquvo (vericiguat) Tablets, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg are a novel soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure (HF) hospitalisation in adults with symptomatic chronic HF and a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 50%. Vericiguat is the first medication licenced particularly for this subset of patients with heart failure (approved by Merck on 1/19/21).

2. HIV

Cabenuva (cabotegravir and rilpivirine) Extended-Release Injectable Suspension is a two-drug co-packaged product that combines cabotegravir (an HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor) and rilpivirine (an HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) and is indicated as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 in adults to replace the current antiretrovir. It is the first and only comprehensive long-acting regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 in adults, replacing the existing antiretroviral regimen in individuals who are virologically suppressed on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine (ViiV Healthcare approved 1/21/21).

3. Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoHF)

Evkeeza (evinacumab-dgnb) Injection is the first FDA-approved angiopoietin-like 3 inhibitor suggested as an addition to existing low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol-lowering treatments in adults and paediatric patients (aged 12 years) with HoHF. The suggested dosage is 15 mg/kg once monthly by IV infusion (approved by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on 2/11/21).

4. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Azstarys (dexmethylphenidate and serdexmethylphenidate) Capsules (previously KP415) is a once-daily central nerve stimulant intended for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents aged 6 years (approved by KemPharm, Inc. on 3/2/21).

5. Skin and structure infection

Kimyrsa (oritavancin) for Injection is a lipoglycopeptide antibacterial medication intended to treat people with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections caused by susceptible isolates of specified gram-positive pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The suggested dose is 1200 milligrammes given intravenously over an hour (Melinta Therapeutics, approved 3/12/21).

6. Hypoglycaemia

Zegalogue (dasiglucagon) Injection, 0.6 mg/0.6 mL, is an anti-hypoglycaemic drug used to treat severe hypoglycaemia in diabetic children and adults aged 6 years and older. A single-dose autoinjector and a single-dose prefilled syringe are available (approved by Zealand Pharma A/S on March 22, 21).

Disclaimer- The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of M3 India.

The author is a practising super specialist from New Delhi.