The year 2024 witnessed remarkable strides in medicine, marked by the FDA's approval of groundbreaking drugs and vaccines. These advancements offer new hope for patients battling various conditions, from high blood pressure to Alzheimer's disease.

GoodRx, a prominent digital healthcare platform, recently highlighted 19 of the most impactful drug and vaccine approvals of 2024. Their selection prioritized first-in-class treatments and vaccines projected to significantly improve human health, considering both the number of individuals affected and the anticipated benefits for future patients. The list also emphasized medications demonstrating superior efficacy and safety profiles compared to existing treatments.

GoodRx emphasized medications and vaccines with a substantial projected impact on human health. (iStock)

Here's a summary of the highlighted approvals, organized by FDA approval date:

1. Dupixent: Expanded use for eosinophilic esophagitis (an allergic esophageal inflammation).
2. Amtagvi: A novel medication for advanced melanoma.
3. Xolair: Expanded use for food allergies.
4. Wegovy: Expanded use for cardiovascular risk reduction.
5. Tryvio: A new high blood pressure medication.
6. Nexletol: Expanded use for high cholesterol.


New treatments address common conditions, like Tryvio for high blood pressure. (iStock)

7. Winrevair: A novel medication for pulmonary arterial hypertension.
8. mRESVIA: A new RSV vaccine.
9. Capvaxive: A new pneumococcal disease vaccine.
10. Wakix: Expanded use for pediatric narcolepsy.
11. Ohtuvayre: A new COPD medication.
12. Kisunla: A novel medication for Alzheimer's disease.
13. Voquezna: Expanded use for heartburn from non-erosive GERD.


Some new medications, like Kisunla for Alzheimer's, are injectables. (iStock)

14. Zunveyl: A novel medication for Alzheimer's disease.
15. Yorvipath: A new medication for hypoparathyroidism.
16. Neffy: A novel nasal spray for severe allergic reactions.
17. FluMist: Expanded use for self- or caregiver-administration.
18. Cobenfy: A new medication for schizophrenia.
19. Dupixent: Expanded use for COPD.

Nasal sprays like Neffy offer new delivery methods for certain treatments. (iStock)

Several of these approvals represent innovative treatments for conditions that haven't seen new medication classes in decades. For instance, both schizophrenia and high blood pressure have new treatment options. Furthermore, existing medications like Wegovy have been approved for new uses, expanding their therapeutic potential. The approvals also prioritize patient convenience, with medications like Neffy providing needle-free alternatives for severe allergies and FluMist allowing for self-administration.

Wegovy's expanded use for cardiovascular risk reduction is a notable development. (Steve Christo - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)