Welcome to The HCPFive, your essential weekly update filled with groundbreaking healthcare news and innovations tailored to busy healthcare providers.

Each week, we emphasize five critical developments or headlines that every healthcare professional should stay updated on. This week, our highlights include revolutionary new migraine guidelines from the American College of Physicians (ACP), the impactful advancements in automated insulin delivery (AID) for managing type 2 diabetes, and promising new FDA approvals for pivotal treatments addressing Crohn’s disease, C3 glomerulopathy, and transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).

Let’s dive into these transformative stories from the healthcare world for the week of March 16, 2025!

New ACP Guidelines for Migraine Management

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has issued updated guidelines recommending the combination of triptans with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen for the treatment of moderate to severe acute episodic migraines. This strong recommendation suggests that healthcare providers should advise patients to begin this combination therapy promptly upon the onset of migraine symptoms, which could lead to more effective management and relief for countless individuals suffering from migraines.

Innovations in Automated Insulin Delivery for Diabetes

Recent studies reveal that Automated Insulin Delivery (AID), particularly using Tandem Diabetes Care’s Control-IQ+ technology, significantly outperformed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) alone in adults with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes (T2D). Participants experienced a remarkable average decrease in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels by 0.9% compared to just 0.3% in the control group after a 13-week period. This advancement marks a critical step in diabetes management, showcasing the potential of technology in improving patient outcomes.

FDA Approves Guselkumab (Tremfya) for Crohn's Disease

The FDA has granted approval to Johnson & Johnson’s guselkumab (Tremfya) for treating adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. This approval stems from robust phase 3 GALAXI trials, which demonstrated that guselkumab surpassed existing therapies like ustekinumab (Stelara) across several endoscopic endpoints, reinforcing its potential as a vital treatment option for patients battling this debilitating condition.

Breakthrough Approval of Iptacopan (Fabhalta) for C3 Glomerulopathy

In a significant advancement for rare kidney diseases, the FDA has approved Novartis’ oral iptacopan (Fabhalta) as the first therapy for C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), aimed at reducing proteinuria. Results from the phase 3 APPEAR-C3G trial showed a noteworthy 35.1% reduction in the 24-hour urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR), with sustained improvements observed at 12 months. This groundbreaking approval offers new hope for patients with this ultra-rare condition.

Vutrisiran (AMVUTTRA) Approved for ATTR-CM Treatment

In a notable development for cardiomyopathy care, the FDA has approved Alnylam’s vutrisiran (AMVUTTRA), expanding its use for adults with transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR-CM). This innovative RNA interference (RNAi) therapy becomes the first of its kind to demonstrate a reduction in cardiovascular-related mortality, hospitalizations, and urgent heart failure visits in patients with this challenging condition, marking a profound leap forward in heart disease management.

Stay tuned for more updates in the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare. With The HCPFive, you’ll always be at the forefront of the latest medical breakthroughs and regulatory changes designed to improve patient care.