As 2024 comes to an end, it is crucial to take a look at some of the major medical advancements that happened this year. 2024 witnessed major developments rom novel therapies for debilitating genetic conditions to a pivotal vaccine-like medication for HIV.
It’s time to take a look at this year’s drugs and innovations that are likely to be game-changers:
New weapon against difficult to treat UTI bugs
In October this year, the FDA approved a drug, Orlynvah, by Iterum Therapeutics for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Antibiotic resistance continues to be a major public health issue. In the recent years, many disease-causing bacteria have steadily adapted to the most common drugs used to treat them, including those that cause urinary tract infections.
According to a report by Gizmodo, Orlynvah is approved solely for certain UTIs caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Proteus mirabilis bacteria—specifically UTIs that haven’t responded or aren’t expected to respond to other antibiotics.
Reportedly, it is the first antibiotic of its kind in which a drug that extends the duration of antibiotics in the body with a compound from a subclass of antibacterials known as penems are combined. Penems have shown promise in treating a wide variety of commonly resistant germs, but Orlynvah is the first oral penem to be approved.
Breakthrough in schizophrenia treatment
In September this year, the FDA approved Bristol Myers Squibb’s Cobenfy for schizophrenia. Reportedly, this is the first truly novel drug for schizophrenia seen since the 1950s.
In clinical trials, Cobenfy noticeably reduced people’s schizophrenia symptoms without causing major side effects, Gizmodo reported.
New drug for Dementia
In September this year, the FDA approved the first-ever medications designed to treat Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC), just days apart: Zevra Therapeutics’ Miplyffa and IntraBio’s Aqneursa.
Interestingly, both drugs, taken as a pill, were found to delay the worsening of people’s symptoms compared to placebo.
Hot flashes treatable soon?
In August this year, Bayer published the results of two successful Phase III trials testing its experimental drug elinzanetant as a treatment for moderate to severe hot flashes in women over 40. However, the FDA still has to formally approve the drug, with a final decision expected by next July.