HCP Five: 5-Minute Recap on Last Week's Top Headlines

Welcome to The HCPFive, your go-to roundup for the latest healthcare news and breakthroughs, curated specifically for busy healthcare professionals.Each week, we highlight 5 key developments or headlines from healthcare that you need to know—whether it's a cutting-edge treatment, regulatory updates, or innovations shaping the future of medicine. This week's top stories included the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) acceptance of a Biologics License Application (BLA) for a cholesterol-lowering drug, long-term data on a dermatologic treatment for hidradenitis suppurativa, an expanded dosing label for a blinding eye disease treatment, and more!With The HCPFive, you'll get the essential takeaways to stay informed and ahead of the curve. Here’s your quick dive into the top stories for the week of February 09, 2025—let’s jump in!Interested in oncology news? Check out The OncFive, from our sister publication OncLive.Top News for Healthcare Providers from the Week of 02/091. FDA Accepts Lerodalcibep BLA for LDL-C Reduction in High-Risk PatientsThe FDA accepted the BLA for lerodalcibep, targeting reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in patients with or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and primary hyperlipidemia. The agency set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of December 12, 2025, and announced no plans to hold an advisory committee meeting.2. Travere Therapeutics Plans FSGS Submission for SparsentanTravere Therapeutics announced its intent to submit a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for sparsentan (Filspari) with the FDA for the treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) at the end of Q1. The announcement arrived soon after the completion of a Type C meeting with the FDA, with the sNDA based on existing data from the Phase 3 DUPLEX and Phase 2 DUET studies.3. Bimekizumab Long-Term Hidradenitis Suppurativa Data Support Efficacy, Safety ProfileBimekizumab (Bimzelx) was associated with sustained disease control for up to 2 years in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), according to presentation of long-term data from the BE HEARD trials. Presented at the 14th Conference of the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation (EHSF), bimekizumab reduced the symptoms of HS, achieved a low rate of flares, and improved health-related quality of life.4. Rosnilimab Demonstrates Historic Responses for Rheumatoid ArthritisRosnilimab achieved historic American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) low disease activity (LDA) responses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to new Phase 2b findings. A depleter and agonist of PD-1+ T cells, rosnilimab was evaluated in the global 424-patient RENOIR trial for efficacy, safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics in patients with moderate-to-severe RA on background conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs).5. FDA Expands Dosing Label for Avacincaptad Pegol for Geographic AtrophyThe FDA approved an expanded label for avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution (IZERVAY) for geographic atrophy (GA), extending the approved dosing beyond 12 months. Announced by Astellas Pharma, the decision comes after the company resubmitted its supplemental New Drug Application (nDA) in December 2024, based on feedback received from the FDA. The company received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) the month prior.See you next week!Editor's note: this was created with the assistance of AI tools.