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Leqselvi for Alopecia Areata: The FDA has approved deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi) as a first-line treatment for adults with moderate to severe alopecia areata (AA). Developed by Sun Pharma, this oral selective inhibitor of Janus kinases JAK1 and JAK2 is typically dosed at 8 mg twice daily. The approval, based on the THRIVE-AA1 and THRIVE-AA2 trials, marks an important addition to limited treatment options for AA, which has significant psychological impacts.

Femlyv Dissolvable Birth Control: The FDA has approved norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol (Femlyv) as an oral dissolvable birth control pill, expanding access for those who have difficulty swallowing. This form of hormonal birth control, in use since 1968 as a swallowable tablet, also helps manage conditions like endometriosis and PMDD. The approval, based on a study of 743 women, offers a new option with common side effects like headache and nausea.

Brineura for Batten Disease: The FDA has expanded the indication for cerliponase alfa (Brineura) to treat neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2 disease) in children under 3 years of age. Developed by BioMarin Pharmaceutical, this enzyme replacement therapy, initially approved in 2017, is administered by infusion into the brain. The expanded approval was based on a phase 2 trial showing reduced motor function decline and delayed disease onset.

Erzofri for Schizophrenia: The FDA has approved paliperidone palmitate (Erzofri) extended-release injectable suspension for treating schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder in adults. This long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic, administered once a month, improves patient adherence by reducing dosing frequency. Developed by Luye Pharma Group, it was granted a U.S. patent in 2023 and approved under the 505(b)(2) pathway.

Eque-cel for MS: The FDA has approved the IND application for equecabtagene autoleucel (Eque-cel) for treating multiple sclerosis (MS). Developed by IASO Biotechnology, this chimeric antigen receptor autologous T cell injection showed promising efficacy in six autoimmune diseases in a Chinese trial. MS, affecting 3.07 million people worldwide, is characterized by CNS demyelination and neuronal injury, with Eque-cel offering a new treatment option.

Spravato for TRD: Johnson & Johnson has submitted an sNDA for esketamine (Spravato) as a monotherapy for adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Already approved in combination with an oral antidepressant, esketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that rapidly alleviates depressive symptoms. The submission is based on Phase 4 TRD4005 study results, showing rapid improvement in depression scores with a consistent safety profile.

ZW191 Anti-Tumor Agent: The FDA has cleared the IND application for ZW191, a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting folate receptor alpha (FR⍺) in cancers like gynecologic and NSCLC. Developed by Zymeworks, this TOPO1i ADC uses a novel payload, ZD06519, showing robust antitumor activity and a tolerable safety profile in preclinical models. Clinical development of ZW191 is planned to begin in the second half of 2024.

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• The FDA has approved vonoprazan (Voquenza) for treating non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults. Vonoprazan is an oral potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB) already approved for erosive esophagitis and Helicobacter pylori infection. PCABs are a new class of medicines that inhibit stomach acid secretion.
• Non-erosive GERD is the most common form of GERD, affecting around 45 million US adults, with about 15 million treated with prescription medication annually. Many patients remain dissatisfied with existing treatments, experiencing symptoms that affect their quality of life.
• The approval of vonoprazan was based on the Phalcon-Nerd-301 study, a Phase 3 trial showing it significantly reduced heartburn episodes and provided more heartburn-free days and nights compared to placebo. The trial included 772 adults with frequent heartburn, demonstrating vonoprazan's effectiveness over placebo.
• The FDA has granted fast track designation to ADI-270 for metastatic or advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in patients who previously received an immune checkpoint inhibitor and a VEGF inhibitor. ADI-270 is a CD70-targeted gamma delta CAR T-cell therapy designed to enhance resilience to the tumor microenvironment.
• A phase 1/2 trial will evaluate ADI-270 in patients with confirmed ccRCC who have been previously treated. The primary endpoints are the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities and the proportion of treatment-emergent adverse effects.
• The FDA has granted Fast Track and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapeutic (RMAT) designations to Lomecel-B, an investigational MSC therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Lomecel-B aims to address neurodegeneration in AD and showed positive results in the CLEAR MIND Phase 2a trial.

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 The FDA has approved blinatumomab (Blincyto) for treating adult and pediatric patients one month or older with CD19-positive Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in the consolidation phase. This bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) therapy targets CD19 surface antigens on B cells, allowing T cells to recognize and eliminate malignant B cells. The approval was based on the Phase 3 E1910 trial showing improved overall survival with blinatumomab plus chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone.

 The FDA has approved roflumilast cream 0.15% (Zorvye) for treating mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in patients aged 6 years and older. This steroid-free, once-daily topical treatment is a selective, highly potent phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor designed for long-term disease control. The approval was based on phase 3 studies showing significant improvements in disease clearance, itch reduction, and overall skin condition compared to the vehicle group.

 The FDA has approved a new 6mg single-dose prefilled syringe for faricimab-svoa (Vabysmo), facilitating easier administration for neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Faricimab-svoa is a VEGF and Ang-2 inhibitor, now available in a ready-to-use format. This approval provides an alternative to the existing single-dose vial and is granted to Genentech.

 The FDA is set to decide on OX124, a high-dose naloxone nasal rescue medication designed to reverse opioid overdoses, with the PDUFA date set for July 15, 2024. Developed by Orexo, OX124 offers rapid absorption, high bioavailability, and enhanced stability, addressing the critical need for potent rescue medications due to the high rate of synthetic opioid overdoses. If approved, OX124's launch is anticipated later in 2024.

 The FDA accepted an NDA for vonoprazan (Voquezna) tablets for treating heartburn associated with Non-Erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults, with the PDUFA date set for July 19, 2024. Vonoprazan is a potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB) offering an alternative to traditional proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Non-Erosive GERD, affecting 38 million U.S. adults, is characterized by reflux-related symptoms without esophageal mucosal erosions, impacting quality of life with symptoms like heartburn and chest pain.