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.

DOACs an effective substitute for VKAs after AFib patients undergo bioprosthetic valve replacement

Direct oral anticoagulants are noninferior to vitamin K antagonists when treating this important patient population, researchers reported.

Evolocumab limits adverse cardiovascular outcomes among PCI patients

Data from the FOURIER trial helped clinicians learn more about this popular PCSK9 inhibitor.

USPSTF shares updated recommendations on statin use to prevent CVD

The public comment period for these recommendations ends on March 21.

Ticagrelor alone after DAPT lowers bleeding risk among heart attack patients undergoing PCI

Researchers examined data from the TWILIGHT study to track how different treatment strategies can impact 12-month PCI outcomes.

LAAC or DOACs? How treatment strategies for AFib impact long-term outcomes

The new analysis provided an update on data from the PRAGUE-17 trial.

DOACs underprescribed among high-risk AFib patients

The study found that frail patients with AFib are less likely to be treated with DOAC therapy.

Metoprolol demonstrates value as a treatment for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The small study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, compared patient outcomes associated with metoprolol and a placebo.

DOACs outperform VKAs among cardiac amyloidosis patients with HF, AFib

Outcomes from patients prescribed apixaban, rivaroxaban or dabigatran were compared with outcomes from patients given warfarin.

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