Update on emerging urate-lowering therapies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss currently available urate-lowering therapeutic options for gout in the United States and newer therapeutic initiatives in development.

RECENT FINDINGS: Currently available urate-lowering drugs include allopurinol and probenecid. These drugs are effective but are often underdosed or underutilized, and caution must be taken in patients with multiple comorbidities. Newer therapeutic agents in development include febuxostat, a nonpurine analogue xanthine oxidase inhibitor, and pegloticase, a pegylated recombinant uricase.

SUMMARY: There have been no new US Food and Drug Administration-approved urate-lowering drugs for gout in the past 40 years. Recent advances in therapeutics promise to provide the opportunity for much needed improvement in patient outcomes in this disorder.