In its Drug Pipeline Insights report for the third quarter, OptumRx highlights five drugs under FDA review that may soon make waves in the healthcare industry for clinical quality, effectiveness and cost. They are listed below:
1. Luspatercept. This is an orphan drug for myelodysplastic syndromes and beta-thalassemia, genetic conditions that cause low blood cell production and anemia. Both conditions require regular blood transfusions, which are costly. The drug aims to make the body produce more red blood cells on its own so patients don't need the regular transfusions.
2. Cabotegravir/Rilpivirine. This is a two-drug regimen for treating HIV in adults. It would be the first long-acting, injectable treatment for adults with HIV. It would need to be administered by a health official.
3. Brolucizumab. This drug is a treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness. Two other drugs, Eylea and Lucentis, treat the disease, but patients taking Brolucizumab saw improved visual measurements with less frequent dosing than those two.
4. Oral Semaglutide. This is a drug to treat Type 2 diabetes. The FDA previously approved the drugmaker's once-a-week injectable version of Semaglutide and on Sept. 20 approved drug in pill form, which may be preferable for many patients.
5. Ubrogepant. This is a new oral migraine treatment that treats symptoms in real time. Other migraine drugs in this class are taken preventively.
Editor's Note: This article was updated Sept. 25 to reflect that the FDA has approved Oral Semaglutide.