New drugs may provide hope to those dealing with certain conditions
New drugs and drug technologies are transforming the way we treat illnesses, but navigating their complexities and costs can be overwhelming. The Optum Rx Drug Pipeline Insights Report? provides you with quarterly updates on upcoming drugs, detailing how they work and what they might cost. The September edition highlights two innovative drugs coming to market.?
Top 10 drug, Dupixent?, adds new indication: COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a group of lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These conditions limit airflow and lead to chronic and progressive breathing-related problems. COPD was the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2023.1 There is a significant unmet need for therapies to address disease progression, such as type 2 inflammation.2 Approximately 300,000 people in the U.S. have uncontrolled COPD with evidence of type 2 inflammation.?
Dupixent? is seeking a new indication for treatment of moderate-to-severe COPD with type 2 inflammation (eosinophilic COPD). The biologically engineered antibody blocks the signaling of some cytokines that can cause type 2 inflammation in COPD. Dupixent? is currently approved for atopic dermatitis, asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, and prurigo nodularis.?
If approved for this new indication, Dupixent? would be the first biologic for COPD and the first treatment specifically for type 2 inflammation. The estimated cost for the drug is $49,000 per year, and it’s administered via injection twice a week.?
Schizophrenia patients get a new option with fewer side effects?
The National Institute for Mental Health describes schizophrenia as “…a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, which can be distressing for them and for their family and friends.”? Schizophrenia occurs more often among men than in women and is usually diagnosed between age 16 and 30. An estimated 2.8 million people have schizophrenia in the U.S.?
Xanomeline/trospium? (also referred to as KarXT), is a novel treatment for schizophrenia and an alternative to atypical antipsychotics. It’s taken orally twice daily and allows patients to avoid many of the common side effects found in the existing standard of care (antipsychotics) including involuntary movements, tremors, muscle contractions, sedation, weight gain, and hormonal imbalances.?
In trials, xanomeline/trospium? proved to be 69% more effective at reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia:?
In comparison, the most common adverse events with xanomeline/trospium? use were constipation, stomach upset, headache, nausea, vomiting, hypertension, dizziness, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and diarrhea.?
Estimated cost for the novel treatment is $20,000 per year.?
Visit optum.com/optumrx for more information on how Optum Rx can help manage your pharmacy benefits.?
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References?
1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. What Is COPD? Last updated October 25, 2023. Accessed July 26, 2024.?
2. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Targeting Type 2 Inflammation and Epithelial Alarmins in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:?
A Biologics Outlook. Published June 22, 2023. Accessed July 24, 2024.?
3. American Cancer Society. Cytokines and Their Side Effects. Last Revised December 27, 2019. Accessed July 24, 2024.?
4. News-Medical.Net. Dupilumab shows promise in cutting COPD flare-ups and boosting lung function. Published May 22, 2024. Accessed July 24, 2024.?
5. Medical Professionals Reference. FDA Extends Review Period for Dupilumab in COPD With Type 2 Inflammation. Published May 31, 2024. Accessed July 24, 2024.?
6. ibid.?
7. Fierce Pharma. Sanofi, Regeneron’s Dupixent could hit $20B in peak sales with COPD expansion: analyst. Published March 24, 2023. Accessed July 25, 2024.?
8. Statista. AbbVie’s revenue from top product Humira from 2011 to 2023. Published May 22, 2024. Accessed July 24, 2024.?
9. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Schizophrenia. Last Reviewed: April 2024. Accessed July 12, 2024.?
10. American Journal of Psychiatry. Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists as Novel Treatments for Schizophrenia. Published Online June 27, 2022. Accessed?July 23, 2024.?
11. ibid.?
12. ibid.?
13. Psychiatric Times. TerXT: Combination of Xanomeline and Trospium Prodrugs for Schizophrenia. Published May 24, 2024. Accessed July 23, 2024.?
14. JAMA Network. Efficacy and Safety of Xanomeline-Trospium Chloride in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Published. May 1, 2024. Accessed July 23, 2024.?
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Decision Scientist| Machine learning | SQL| Python| PowerBI
6 个月Amazing
Nurse Practitioner at Optum
6 个月The development of these new drugs is a testament to the tireless efforts of researchers and pharmaceutical companies dedicated to improving human health. As these trials progress and the drugs receive regulatory approval, they will undoubtedly bring hope and healing to countless patients and their families. The future of medicine is bright, with these groundbreaking treatments paving the way for a better and healthier tomorrow.