The HCPFive: Top News for Healthcare Providers from the Week of 10/19

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 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for the treatment of adults with active lupus nephritis (LN), oral semaglutide 7 mg and 14 mg (Rybelsus) for cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and Epioxa for adult patients with keratoconus, as well as a position paper on colorectal cancer screening and surveillance from the American College of Physicians (ACP) and phase 3 data highlighting the impact of ombination aroxybutynin and atomoxetine (AD109) apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) across multiple weight classes.

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 October 19, 2025—let’s jump in!

FDA Approves Obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for Lupus Nephritis

On October 20, 2025, the FDA approved Genentech’s obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for the treatment of adult patients with active LN who are receiving standard therapy, as well as a shorter 90-minute infusion time after the first infusion, for eligible patients. Following 4 initial doses in the first year, obinutuzumab can be administered twice yearly, offering an effective and potentially more convenient treatment option than traditional targeted therapies. The approval is based on positive results from the phase 2 NOBILITY and phase 3 REGENCY studies.

FDA Approves Oral Semaglutide (Rybelsus) for CV Risk Reduction in Type 2 Diabetes

The FDA approved Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide 7 mg and 14 mg (Rybelsus) for CV risk reduction in patients with T2D who are at high risk, irrespective of prior CV events. The approval was based on positive results from the SOUL trial, a multicenter, international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase 3b trial.

FDA Approves Incision-Free Topical Therapy Epioxa for Keratoconus

On October 20, 2025, the FDA approved Glaukos Corporation’s Epioxa, an incision-free alternative to cross-linking procedures to treat adult patients with keratoconus. The approval is based on results from 2 prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-masked, phase 3 pivotal trials, both of which achieved their prespecified primary efficacy endpoints, demonstrating the favorable tolerability and safety profiles of Epioxa.

ACP Releases Position Paper on Colorectal Cancer Screening, Surveillance

On October 21, 2025, the ACP released a position paper reviewing current performance measures for colorectal cancer screening and surveillance, ultimately supporting 1 of 5 reviewed measures. Published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the paper seeks to inform physicians, payers, and policymakers in their selection and use of performance measures and make recommendations for measures that could be developed.

Aroxybutynin and Atomoxetine (AD109) Reduces Obstructive Sleep Apnea Burden in Phase 3 SynAIRgy

26-week data from the phase 3 SynAIRgy trial presented during late-breaking data sessions at the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) 2025 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL, highlight significant improvement to AHI scores among patients with OSA treated with combination aroxybutynin and atomoxetine (AD109), with findings consistent across multiple weight classes.