The HCPFive: Top News for Healthcare Providers from the Week of 07/19

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 include Agios’ discontinuation of tebapivat’s clinical development program for sickle cell disease, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of olopatadine hydrochloride and mometasone furoate (Ryaltris) nasal spray, 665 mcg/25 mcg per spray, for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms in children aged 6 to 11 years, positive topline results for the global phase 3 SHASTA-3 and SHASTA-4 clinical studies of plozasiran in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, the FDA acceptance of BridgeBio’s New Drug Application (NDA) for encaleret for the treatment of autosomal dominant hypocalcemia type 1 (ADH1), and the FDA approval of MannKind Corporation’s furosemide injection (Furoscix ReadyFlow) for the treatment of edema (fluid overload) in adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease.

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 July 19, 2026 — let's jump in!

Agios Ends Tebapivat Development in Sickle Cell Disease After Phase 2

On July 21, 2026, Agios announced topline results from a phase 2 trial of tebapivat in patients aged ≥16 years with sickle cell disease showing improvements in hemoglobin and markers of hemolysis. However, the results did not demonstrate sufficient differentiation to support continued development of the pyruvate kinase (PK) activator, prompting the Company to discontinue the program.

"These phase 2 data further reinforce PK activation as a clinically validated mechanism in sickle cell disease, with tebapivat demonstrating hematologic activity consistent with this class of medicine," said Sarah Gheuens, MD, PhD, chief medical officer and head of research and development at Agios, in a statement. "However, the results did not establish the level of differentiation we believe is necessary to support continued development."

FDA Approves Ryaltris for Children Aged 6 to 11 With Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

On July 21, 2026, the FDA expanded the approved use of olopatadine hydrochloride and mometasone furoate (Ryaltris) nasal spray, 665 mcg/25 mcg per spray, to include the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms in children aged 6 to 11 years. With the approval, the treatment is now indicated for adults and pediatric patients aged ≥ 6 years in the United States, broadening access to a younger population than the drug's original 2022 approval for patients aged ≥ 12 years.

Plozasiran Meets Primary Endpoint in SHASTA-3, SHASTA-4 sHTG Trials

On July 22, 2026, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals announced topline results for the global phase 3 SHASTA-3 and SHASTA-4 clinical studies of plozasiran in patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia. Both trials successfully met the primary endpoint of triglyceride reduction versus placebo and met all prespecified secondary endpoints, including a statistically significant reduction in the rate of acute pancreatitis compared to placebo.

FDA Accepts NDA for Encaleret for Autosomal Dominant Hypocalcemia Type 1

Only July 22, 2026, the FDA accepted BridgeBio’s New Drug Application (NDA) for encaleret for the treatment of ADH1, assigning a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of May 8, 2027. If approved, encaleret will be the only therapy indicated specifically for patients with ADH1. The orally administered small molecule designed to selectively negatively modulate the calcium sensing receptor has previously received Fast Track Designation from the FDA and Orphan Drug Designation in the US, European Union, and Japan.

FDA Approves Furosemide Injection (Furoscix ReadyFlow) for Edema in HF, CKD

On July 24, 2026, the FDA approved MannKind Corporation’s furosemide injection (Furoscix ReadyFlow) for the treatment of edema (fluid overload) in adults with heart failure or chronic kidney disease, making it the first and only autoinjector delivering subcutaneous furosemide with IV-equivalent exposure (based on comparisons of AUC and PD endpoints), providing a full 80 mg/mL dose in a simple, patient-friendly format administered in < 10 seconds.