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.

Chronic liver disease associated with worse PCI outcomes

Researchers tracked data from more than 54,000 adult patients with CLD who underwent PCI from 2004 to 2015.

August 3, 2021

FDA pushes for statin warnings to be updated

It has long been believed that patients should not take statins while they are pregnant. Now, however, the FDA is emphasizing that there are certain exceptions to that rule.

July 20, 2021

Prasugrel outperforms ticagrelor among PCI patients

The study's authors tracked data from more than 3,000 patients who underwent PCI for acute coronary syndrome.

June 30, 2021

Ticagrelor vs. prasugrel for severe heart attack patients undergoing PCI

A new study, published in Circulation, tracked how each drug helped STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

December 15, 2020

Skip the clopidogrel? TAVR patients benefit from antiplatelet therapy that includes aspirin only

The risk of major bleeding or life-threatening bleeding events was higher when clopidogrel was included in the patient's treatment strategy.

December 9, 2020

How ticagrelor or clopidogrel use can impact PCI outcomes

The authors tracked data from more than 62,000 adult patients who received treatment from November 2011 to March 2019.

November 2, 2020

Bivalirudin bests heparin for treating heart attack patients undergoing PCI

The findings were presented Wednesday, Oct. 14, during TCT Connect 2020.

October 14, 2020

Confirmed: Key heart medications safe to use for COVID-19 patients

The BRACE CORONA trial focused on the safety of taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers when hospitalized with COVID-19.

September 1, 2020

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