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.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has launched a nationwide data-driven research competition to uncover how inflammation contributes to cardiovascular risk and how it is currently addressed in clinical practice. The initiative, called the Systemic Inflammation Data Challenge, invites data scientists, clinicians, and researchers to leverage advanced analytics and electronic medical record (EMR) data to better understand the impact of systemic inflammation on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

AHA data challenge explores links between inflammation and heart disease

Are care teams doing enough to take on inflammation? The American Heart Association hopes this new research initiative can help answer that question, and many others.

Yes, researchers argue, vitamin D supplements help protect the heart

The ongoing debate continues. The team behind this latest analysis pointed to more than 40 years of research to make its point.

Bayer finerenone Kerendia heart failure MOONRAKER

FDA approves Bayer's finerenone to treat wide range of heart failure patients

Finerenone, sold by Bayer under the brand name Kerendia, is now approved in the United States for the treatment of HFmrEF and HFpEF. The drug has already been used for years to treat patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.

Statin use may protect patients from subarachnoid hemorrhages

Statins appear to be the most impactful for patients diagnosed with hypertension or cerebrovascular disease.

FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation to new drug candidate for FA cardiomyopathy

The new drug, LX2006, has already received the FDA's fast track designation. This latest distinction was based on early data from two separate clinical trials.

FDA finalizes new heart warnings for COVID-19 vaccines

The new warnings, first proposed to Pfizer and Moderna in April, are now officially required by the FDA. They provide additional information about the potential risks of myocarditis and/or pericarditis associated with these vaccines.

New report raises questions about data that helped heart drug gain FDA approval

Ticagrelor, an antiplatelet medication from AstraZeneca commonly prescribed by cardiologists, gained FDA approval back in 2011. The author of a new investigative report, however, is raising several concerns about the data used to secure that approval.

Semaglutide, tirzepatide and other GLP-1 drugs appear to provide significant value for patients with moderate PAD.

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