FDA on Friday granted accelerated approval to sparsentan (Filspari, Travere Therapeutics) to reduce proteinuria in adults with primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN) at risk of rapid disease progression, generally a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio ≥1.5 g/g. The once-daily oral medication selectively targets 2 critical pathways in the disease progression of IgAN (endothelin-1 and angiotensin II) and is the first and only nonimmunosuppressive therapy approved for the treatment of this condition. IgAN, while a rare kidney disease, is a leading cause of kidney failure due to glomerular disease, affecting up to 150,000 people in the U.S., with approximately 30,000 to 50,000 of such patients estimated to be addressable under the indication approved via accelerated approval.
“Self-motivation is an essential life skill that is being neglected because young people prefer the path of least resistance,” according to student opinions expressed in a Feb. 21 Wall Street Journal article on the use of psychoactive drugs in young people. “But the blame isn’t only on students—it also falls on their parents and doctors. Doctors and parents should encourage lifestyle habits such as a healthy diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep before resorting to the use of narcotics. Medicated America is fostering a generation of lazy young professionals that can’t get anything done without amphetamines.”
Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) occur less frequently in people vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a letter in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Even partial vaccination provided significant protection over no vaccination, the study explained, though full vaccination was associated with greater reductions in risk of MACE.