Pharmaceutics

This page contains key pharmaceutical news on drug recalls, FDA clearance, safety communications and research. In cardiology, key pharmaceutic agents include antiplatelet therapies, anticoagulants, hypertension drugs, and drugs for heart failure and arrhythmias.

COVID-19, other infections linked to major cardiovascular risks—researchers push for vaccination
Adults are three times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke after a COVID-19 infection than when they are healthy. The risks are even greater for the flu.
Novo Nordisk, Pfizer enter bidding war for biotech startup—and it is getting ugly
Pfizer was all set to acquire New York City-based Metsera for $4.9 billion, but Novo Nordisk stepped in with an unexpected counteroffer of $6.5 billion. Both companies hope to add Metsera's drugs to their GLP-1 portfolios.
Nearly 600K bottles of blood pressure drug recalled due to carcinogen risk
The FDA has detailed three voluntary recalls for prazosin hydrochloride, a medication used to treat hypertension, due to safety concerns.
Clinical trials paused due to heart patient’s hospitalization
Intellia Therapeutics paused clinical trials for ATTR-CM and ATTR-PN after a patient was hospitalized due to a significant liver injury.
New drug recall includes more than 140K bottles of popular statin
According to the FDA, the drugs are not dissolving correctly. This can impact their ability to lower a patient’s cholesterol as intended.

Cardiologists recommend complete revascularization, intravascular imaging in new ACS guidelines

The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association published the new guidelines with assistance from other leading U.S. medical societies.

FDA sued over ‘reckless and arbitrary’ semaglutide decision

The Outsourcing Facilities Association, a Texas-based trade group, is alleging that supply issues still remain for Ozempic and Wegovy. The group believes the FDA has ignored those issues.

Medtronic enrolls first patient in new coronary DCB trial—data could lead to FDA approval

The paclitaxel-coated device, already approved in Europe and other parts of the world, will be tested on more than 1,200 patients for a new international trial. If the study is a success, Medtronic hopes to gain regulatory approval in the United States and Japan.

Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, discusses research and drug therapies in development to treat lipoprotein (a). #Lp(a)

New drug therapies targeting Lp(a) could be a breakthrough in cardiovascular care

Lipoprotein (a) research is on the rise in recent years. Deepak Bhatt, MD, director of Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, explains why this trend is so important.

FDA ends semaglutide shortage, closing the door on compounded Wegovy, Ozempic

The years-long shortage of Wegovy and Ozempic, two popular prescription-only semaglutide injections, is officially over.

FDA approves first rapid-acting insulin biosimilar for diabetes

Sanofi's Merilog is a new biosimilar substitute for Novo Nordisk’s NovoLog. It can be used to treat adult and pediatric patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Sotagliflozin the first drug of its kind to limit heart attacks, strokes in high-risk patients

Sotagliflozin, a dual SGLTI and SGLT2 inhibitor, can significantly reduce the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes, CKD and additional cardiovascular risk factors, according to a new study of more than 10,000 patients.

Osteoporosis drug shows potential to treat heart disease

Researchers used advanced AI to see if any FDA-approved medications could potentially reverse one of the mutations behind dilated cardiomyopathy. Risedronate, a popular osteoporosis medication, is the one candidate that got the job done.

Pharmaceutics

COVID-19, other infections linked to major cardiovascular risks—researchers push for vaccination

Novo Nordisk, Pfizer enter bidding war for biotech startup—and it is getting ugly

Nearly 600K bottles of blood pressure drug recalled due to carcinogen risk

Clinical trials paused due to heart patient’s hospitalization

New drug recall includes more than 140K bottles of popular statin