Weight-loss medicine stole a lot of the highlight in 2023, however those scientific advances treating different stipulations also are worthy of consideration (SN: 12/13/23).
Inexperienced gentle for CRISPR gene enhancing
On December 8, the U.S. Meals and Drug Management licensed the arena’s first CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing treatment (SN: 12/8/23). The remedy, referred to as Casgevy, objectives sickle cellular illness by way of serving to sufferers produce wholesome hemoglobin. In folks with the illness, hemoglobin is peculiar, inflicting purple blood cells to transform laborious and crescent formed, which is able to block blood go with the flow. Via March 2024, the FDA will come to a decision whether or not the similar treatment can be utilized to regard beta-thalassemia, a dysfunction that reduces hemoglobin manufacturing.
Slowing down Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab (emblem identify Leqembi) received complete FDA approval in July. Just like the drug aducanumab licensed in 2021, lecanemab eliminates the amyloid plaques that increase within the brains of folks with Alzheimer’s. The drug doesn’t prevent the illness, however in a scientific trial, lecanemab slowed cognitive decline by way of about 30 p.c over 18 months when compared with a placebo (SN: 8/12/23, p. 9).
A gene treatment for muscular dystrophy
In June, the FDA licensed the primary gene treatment for youngsters with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Because of a erroneous gene, folks with this muscle-wasting illness don’t make the protein dystrophin, which is helping stay muscle cells intact. The treatment is helping the frame produce a model of the lacking protein (SN: 6/22/23).
Guarding in opposition to RSV
A number of techniques to offer protection to in opposition to respiration syncytial virus arrived this yr. In Might, the FDA licensed the primary RSV vaccine, referred to as Arexvy, in the USA, for adults age 60 and older (SN: 6/17/23, p. 8), after which in August, a vaccine for pregnant folks, referred to as Abrysvo (SN: 8/25/23). A monoclonal antibody — a lab-made antibody that mimics immune device proteins — received approval in July to offer protection to youngsters 2 and more youthful from the virus, which sends as many as 80,000 small children to U.S. hospitals every yr (SN: 4/27/23). However in October, restricted provides of the treatment led the U.S. Facilities for Illness Keep an eye on and Prevention to suggest booking it for small children at easiest chance for headaches from RSV.
A tablet for postpartum despair
Till August, the one drugs in the USA particularly focused on postpartum despair required a 60-hour intravenous infusion in a sanatorium (SN: 3/22/19). With FDA approval of zuranolone (emblem identify Zurzuvae), the ones bothered with postpartum despair can take an oral drugs at house and revel in development in as low as 3 days.
Start regulate, no prescription required
In July, the FDA dominated that the oral contraceptive norgestrel, first licensed in 1973, be to be had with out a prescription. It’s the primary OTC day by day start regulate tablet in the USA. Some public well being professionals argue that lowering boundaries to birth control is particularly essential to reproductive autonomy now that state bans have restricted get right of entry to to abortion (SN: 5/19/23).
A shot in opposition to chikungunya
The chikungunya virus could cause fever and critical joint ache, and be deadly to newborns. In November, the FDA licensed the first vaccine in opposition to the virus, which is transmitted by way of mosquitoes. The virus is maximum prevalent in tropical areas, however the FDA warns that it’s spreading to new portions of the globe.
Narcan over-the-counter
The nasal spray Narcan, aka naloxone, can opposite the results of an opioid overdose inside mins. In March, the FDA dominated this life-saving drug may also be offered over-the-counter. Officers hope that more straightforward get right of entry to to Narcan can assist struggle the opioid epidemic, which claimed the lives of just about 645,000 folks from 1999 to 2021 because of overdoses.