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.

FDA says years-long tirzepatide shortage is resolved, will give limited leeway to compounders
The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.
Merck spends up to $2B to license new weight loss drug with potential heart benefits
Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.
Clopidogrel vs. aspirin: Tracking the chronic maintenance period after PCI for different risk groups
As more high-risk patients undergo PCI, what is the best antiplatelet strategy following an initial event-free period of DAPT? Does it change after complex PCI? Researchers aimed to answer these questions, and many others, with new findings published in JAMA Cardiology.
FDA approves new short-term treatment for AFib, atrial flutter in critical care settings
Landiolol, sold by AOP Health under the brand name Rapiblyk, is an intravenous treatment designed to start working right away.
FDA approves acoramidis, BridgeBio’s new ATTR-CM drug
Acoramidis, a selective transthyretin stabilizer being sold under the brand name Attruby, is now the second ATTR-CM medication to gain FDA approval.

Generic statin options can save the US $11.9B per year

The study tracked five generic statins: atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin and pravastatin.

November 23, 2021

Q&A: Cleveland Clinic cardiologist details the past, present and future of drug-eluting stents

Amar Krishnaswamy, MD, shared his thoughts on this important technology in an exclusive interview.

November 22, 2021

AFib patients able to safely transition from warfarin to a DOAC

The new analysis, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, explored what happens with AFib patients shift their anticoagulant strategy.

November 19, 2021

Black, Hispanic AFib patients less likely to start anticoagulant therapy, new VA study finds

Researchers wrote that they hope their findings can help guide the creation of policies that reduce disparities in care for AFib patients.

November 18, 2021

High-dose icosapent ethyl treatment makes minimal impact on non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients

The analysis, presented at AHA Scientific Sessions 2021, included approximately 2,000 symptomatic COVID-19 patients who were not necessarily sick enough to be hospitalized.

November 16, 2021

Statin use may increase the risk of severe illness among COVID-19 patients

The new analysis emphasized, however, that COVID-19 mortality did not appear to be affected by prior statin use.

October 28, 2021

Many nonvalvular AFib patients skip DOAC therapy altogether

The study's authors hope their work can help with the development of new interventions that target this issue.

October 25, 2021

The exact effect of statin use on COVID-19 outcomes remains unclear

Researchers examined data from nearly 470,000 patients.

October 25, 2021

Pharmaceutics

FDA says years-long tirzepatide shortage is resolved, will give limited leeway to compounders

Merck spends up to $2B to license new weight loss drug with potential heart benefits

Clopidogrel vs. aspirin: Tracking the chronic maintenance period after PCI for different risk groups

FDA approves new short-term treatment for AFib, atrial flutter in critical care settings

FDA approves acoramidis, BridgeBio’s new ATTR-CM drug