1
COVID-19 Update: 2025-2026 Vaccine Formulations and Recommendations
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 13, 2025; (Issue 1739)
The FDA has licensed new 2025-2026 formulations
of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by
Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) and Moderna (Spikevax,
mNEXSPIKE) and the adjuvanted protein subunit
COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Novavax
(Nuvaxovid). The new formulations are indicated
for use in all adults ≥65 years old and in persons
6 months (Spikevax), 5 years (Comirnaty), or 12
years (mNEXSPIKE, Nuvaxovid) through 64 years old
who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 because
of an underlying condition. An Emergency Use
Authorization allowing administration of the Pfizer
vaccine to children 6 months through 4 years old has
been withdrawn.
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In Brief: A Second Subcutaneous Furosemide Infusor (Lasix ONYU) for Heart Failure
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 16, 2026; (Issue 1750)
The FDA has approved Lasix ONYU (SQ Innovation),
a subcutaneous formulation of the loop diuretic
furosemide administered via a wearable pump (onbody
infusor), for treatment of edema in adults with
chronic heart failure (HF). A similar product, Furoscix,
is approved for treatment of edema in chronic HF
or chronic kidney disease. Furosemide has been
available for years in oral and IV formulations for
such use.
3
Correction
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 16, 2026; (Issue 1750)
In our article titled A Renal Indication for Semaglutide (Ozempic)
(Med Lett Drugs Ther 2025; 67:38), the MACE endpoint defined
in Table 2, footnote 3 was incorrectly stated as a composite of
cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal
stroke, or all-cause mortality. All-cause mortality should not
have been included in the composite endpoint.
4
Two New Drugs for Gonorrhea
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 16, 2026; (Issue 1750)
The FDA has approved two antibiotics, gepotidacin
(Blujepa — GSK) and zoliflodacin (Nuzolvence —
Entasis), for oral treatment of uncomplicated
urogenital gonorrhea in patients ≥12 years old.
Gepotidacin is approved for use in persons weighing
≥45 kg who have limited or no alternative treatment
options; it was approved in 2025 for treatment of
uncomplicated urinary tract infection in females.
Zoliflodacin is approved for use in persons weighing
≥35 kg. Neither drug is indicated for treatment of
rectal or pharyngeal gonorrhea.
5
Antiviral Drugs for Seasonal Influenza for 2025-2026
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 27, 2025; (Issue 1740)
Influenza is generally a self-limited illness, but complications
including pneumonia, respiratory failure, and
death can occur, especially in persons at increased
risk (see Table 1).
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Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis and Allergic Conjunctivitis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 31, 2025; (Issue 1725)
Initial treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) depends
on the severity of symptoms and whether they are
intermittent or persistent (see Table 1).
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Obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for Lupus Nephritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 16, 2026; (Issue 1750)
Obinutuzumab (Gazyva – Genentech), a CD20-directed
monoclonal antibody, has been approved by the FDA
for treatment of adults with active lupus nephritis who
are receiving standard treatment. It was previously
approved for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
and follicular lymphoma. Obinutuzumab is the third
drug to be approved in the US for treatment of lupus
nephritis; the oral calcineurin inhibitor voclosporin
(Lupkynis) and the parenteral B-lymphocyte stimulator
(BlyS)-specific inhibitor belimumab (Benlysta) were
approved earlier.
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Depemokimab (Exdensur) for Severe Eosinophilic Asthma
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 16, 2026; (Issue 1750)
The FDA has approved depemokimab (Exdensur –
GSK), a long-acting interleukin-5 (IL-5) antagonist,
for add-on maintenance treatment of severe asthma
characterized by an eosinophilic phenotype in
patients ≥12 years old. Depemokimab is the fourth
IL-5-directed treatment to be approved in the US for
this indication; the IL-5 antagonists mepolizumab
(Nucala) and reslizumab (Cinqair) and the IL-5
receptor alpha antagonist benralizumab (Fasenra)
were approved earlier.
9
Ziftomenib (Komzifti) for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 16, 2026; (Issue 1750)
Ziftomenib (Komzifti – Kura), an oral menin inhibitor,
has been approved by the FDA for treatment of adults
with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia
(AML) with a susceptible nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1)
mutation who have no satisfactory alternative
treatment options. It is the second oral menin inhibitor
to be approved in the US for this indication; revumenib
(Revuforj) was approved in October 2025 for use in
patients ≥1 year old.
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In Brief: Aflibercept (Eylea HD) for Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 30, 2026; (Issue 1751)
Eylea HD (Regeneron), which contains 8 mg of the
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor
aflibercept, has now been approved by the FDA for
intravitreal treatment of macular edema following
retinal vein occlusion (RVO). A 2-mg dose of aflibercept
(Eylea) was approved previously for this indication.
Eylea and Eylea HD are also approved for treatment of
neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration,
diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy.
