Video: Here are four new drugs relevant to primary care practices

BOSTON — There are a handful of “novel and important” treatments that primary care providers should be aware of this year, according to a speaker.

Gerald W. Smetana, MD, MACP, an internal medicine and primary care physician affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, gave a similar talk at the ACP Internal Medicine Meeting last year. We caught up with him again this year, and he highlighted four specific treatments, all of which have recently been approved by the FDA:

• vonoprazan, for the treatment of refractory reflux symptoms;
• fezolinetant, for the treatment of moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause;
• RSV vaccines, including one developed by Pfizer and another by GSK; and
• gepirone, for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

In the video, Smetana discusses the safety and efficacy of the drugs and the costs of treatment, helping providers to have important conversations with their patients about their use.

Reference:

• Smetana GW. New meds to know in primary care. Presented at: ACP Internal Medicine Meeting; April 18-20, 2024; Boston.