Key Drugs With Promising Outcomes: First Half Of 2021

With each year that unfolds, a list of novel approved medications is added for treating multitudes of disorders and illnesses that affect humanity. This year was no different. But due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the general population is now more aware of the upcoming drugs and their applications.

With a noteworthy response to the worldwide pandemic, pharmaceutical companies have also produced advanced innovative medicines that work on conditions that inhibit the quality of life of millions affected. An in-depth assessment of the top drugs launched in 2021 (first half) explains these drugs in further detail. In this blog, however, we will take a peek at the list of the most anticipated medicines of 2021.

JUNE 2021.

• Lybalvi (olanzapine and samidorphan): Alkermes PLC – Schizophrenia and/or bipolar I disorder.

Works by maintaining monotherapy for the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes or as an adjunct to lithium or valproate.

MAY 2021.

• Pegcetacoplan (APL-2): Apellis Pharmaceuticals – Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

A synthetic cyclic peptide conjugated to a polyethylene glycol polymer that works by binding specifically to C3 and C3b, thereby regulating the cleavage of C3 and the generation of downstream effectors of complement activation.

• Lumakras (Sotorasib): Amgen INC – Non-small cell lung cancer.

Works by forming an irreversible, covalent bond with the unique cysteine of KRAS G12C, locking the protein in an inactive state that prevents downstream signaling without affecting wild-type KRAS.

• Truseltiq(infigratinib): BridgeBio Pharma – Cholangiocarcinoma.

A kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable locally advanced, or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusion or other rearrangements.

• Rybrevant (amivantamab; Janssen): Janssen R&D, a Johnson & Johnson company – Non-small cell lung cancer.

Works by binding extracellularly (outside of the cell), thus inhibiting tumor growth and leading to tumor cell death.

APRIL 2021

• Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine): ADC Therapeutics – Large B-cell lymphoma.

A CD19-directed antibody and alkylating agent conjugate indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma, and high-grade B-cell lymphoma.

MARCH 2021

• Abecma (ide-cel): Bristol-Myers Squibb and Bluebird Bio – Multiple myeloma.

Works by recognizing and binding to BCMA, leading to the death of BCMA-expressing cells.

FEBRUARY 2021

• Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel): Bristol-Myers Squibb – Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Works when administered intravenously in defined composition at a precise dose of CD8 and CD4 CAR T cells which induced durable responses in poor-prognosis patients with R/R aggressive NHL after at least two prior therapies.

• UKONIQ (umbralisib): TG Therapeutics (discovered by – Rhizen Pharma) – Follicular lymphoma (FL).

Works by playing a crucial role in supporting cell proliferation and survival, cell differentiation, intercellular trafficking, and immunity.

• Amondys 45 (casimersen): Sarepta Therapeutics – Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Works by increasing dystrophin production in skeletal muscle of patients amenable to exon 45 skipping.

• Evkeeza(evinacumab): Regeneron Pharmaceuticals – Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH).

Works by binding to and blocking the function of angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3), a protein that plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism.

• Tepmetko(Tepotinib): Merck Group – Mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET).

Works by targeting MET, including variants with exon 14 skipping alterations, and inhibiting hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-dependent and -independent MET phosphorylation and MET-dependent downstream signaling pathways and also inhibiting melatonin-2 and imidazoline-1 receptor at clinically achievable concentrations.

JANUARY 2021

• Lupykynis(voclosporin): Aurinia Pharmaceuticals – Lupus nephritis.

Works by blocking calcineurin(a signaling protein involved in T cell activation), the small molecule oral drug inhibits IL-2 and tamps down inflammation in the kidney.

Resources:Top Drugs Launched in 2021, By Delveinsight.