Understand the benefits and risks of intravenous methadone for perioperative and chronic cancer pain management
AbstractIntravenous (IV) methadone is a long-acting analgesic opioid with unique properties that may be useful in the management of acute perioperative and chronic cancer pain. Several randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that intraoperative IV methadone is effective for perioperative pain and reduces the use of postoperative opioids. Limited evidence shows that IV methadone is promising for chronic cancer pain; however, further studies are required. Methadone is associated with opioid-related adverse effects, with particular safety concerns around the risk of prolonged respiratory depression and QT interval; caref...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - December 13, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Tezepelumab in severe asthma: a profile of its use
AbstractTezepelumab (tezepelumab-ekko; TEZSPIRE®), a first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin, represents a novel, effective and generally well tolerated treatment option for patients with severe asthma across a wide range of phenotypes. In randomized, double-blind, phase 2 (PATHWAY) and phase 3 (NAVIGATOR) trials, subcutaneous tezepelumab demonstrated a significant reduction in annualized asthma exacerbation rate among patients with severe uncontrolled asthma. The efficacy was seen across a broad range of patients with different asthma endotypes and phenotypes, including eosinophilic and ...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - December 7, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Spesolimab in generalised pustular psoriasis flares: a profile of its use
AbstractSpesolimab (Spevigo®) is a promising new treatment for generalised pustular psoriasis (GPP) flares. GPP is a rare and life-threatening autoinflammatory disease characterized by flares of widespread skin lesions with pustules, which may be accompanied by systemic inflammation. Spesolimab, a novel interleukin (IL)-36 receptor antagonist, is approved in the EU and USA for the treatment of GPP flares in adults. In a pivotal phase 2 trial, a significantly higher proportion of patients with a GPP flare who received a single intravenous dose of spesolimab had no visible pustules and clear or almost clear skin at the end ...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - December 2, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Manage vitiligo with a personalised approach: consider old and new treatments
AbstractVitiligo is an autoimmune condition that causes loss of skin colour. For many years it has been managed using treatments that simply dampen immune and inflammatory responses, including topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, oral corticosteroids and phototherapy. Ongoing research, however, is helping to uncover what drives the development of vitiligo and identify potential new treatment targets. The Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription signalling pathway has been identified as playing an important role in vitiligo, leading to the approval of the first US FDA-approved treat...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - November 24, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Correction to: RBX2660 (REBYOTA ®) in preventing recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection: a profile of its use in the USA
(Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - November 24, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
The role of belzutifan, an inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor, for renal cell carcinoma in adults with Von Hippel –Lindau disease: a review
AbstractVon Hippel –Lindau (VHL) is an autosomal dominant disease that predisposes individuals to various types of malignancies, including renal cell carcinoma, systemic hemangioblastomas, pheochromocytomas, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and endolymphatic sac tumors, with renal cell carcinoma being the most prev alent. The disease is caused by a mutation in the VHL gene on chromosome 3. One function of the VHL gene is to suppress the expression of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). HIF promotes cellular proliferation and angiogenesis under hypoxic conditions. In VHL, mutations allow HIF to promote cellular pro pagation ...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - November 21, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Ublituximab in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis: a profile of its use
AbstractUblituximab (BRIUMVITM), an anti-CD20 immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody, is a promising new treatment option for patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Ublituximab is approved in the USA and the EU for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of MS. Following a starting dose of 150 mg infused over 4 h, ublituximab is conveniently administered twice-yearly as a short (1 h) intravenous infusion. In phase 3 clinical trials in patients with relapsing MS, ublituximab was more effective than oral teriflunomide at reducing annualized relapse rates and numbers of brain lesions ov er ...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - November 6, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Deucravacitinib in plaque psoriasis: a profile of its use
AbstractDeucravacitinib (SOTYKTU ™) is a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor that expands the availability of effective oral treatments for the management of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. In contrast to Janus kinase inhibitors that target Janus kinase 1–3, deucravacitinib selectively inhibits TYK2. This mechanis m may allow more specific targeting of type-1 interferons and the interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 pathway, which are associated with the pathophysiology of psoriasis. In two phase 3 clinical trials, deucravacitinib was superior to placebo in meeting coprimary efficacy endpoints at week 16. The efficac...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - November 1, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Towards intra-articular therapies for more than just symptom management in osteoarthritis
This article summarises recent guideline recommendations for intra-articular therapies and highlights some of the new therapies currently in clinical evaluation. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - October 9, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Manage idiopathic hypersomnia with a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments
AbstractIdiopathic hypersomnia (IH) is a rare sleeping disorder that is difficult to diagnose, and little is known about its pathophysiology. A defining symptom of IH is excessive daytime sleepiness, which can manifest as narcolepsy-like episodes or as continuous sleepiness. Other symptoms of IH includes sleep inertia and cognitive impairment. Currently, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium oxybates is the only FDA approved pharmacological treatment option in the management of IH. Off-label treatment options are recommended by guidelines, with many also being used for the management of narcolepsy. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - October 3, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
First reports of adverse drug reactions
(Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 29, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
RBX2660 (REBYOTA ®) in preventing recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection: a profile of its use in the USA
AbstractRBX2660 (fecal microbiota, live-jslm; REBYOTA®) is an emerging option for the prevention of recurrentClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) following standard of care (SOC) antibiotics. RBX2660 is a first-in-class, live biotherapeutic product available as a single-dose microbiota suspension for rectal administration. RBX2660 was effective in reducing recurrent CDI following SOC antibiotic therapy in the pivotal, phase 3 PUNCH CD3 trial. In a Bayesian analysis model, RBX2660 was superior to placebo in terms of treatment success, defined as the absence of CDI diarrhea within 8 weeks of study treatment. Most pa...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 23, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Go with your gut: targeting the microbiome for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome
AbstractIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects up to 10% of people worldwide and reduces quality of life. The underlying cause of IBS can vary, so finding an effective treatment may require trialling different options. Altering the gut microbiome is an effective approach to treating IBS in a subset of patients. Probiotics can alleviate the symptoms of IBS; however, it is currently uncertain which bacterial species or strains are the most effective. There is reasonable evidence to support the use of the antibiotic rifaximin for IBS with diarrhoea in latter lines of therapy, while further evaluation is required for faecal mi...
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 23, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Prescribe colchicine with care and be aware of colchicine drug interactions
This article summarises the ris ks associated with colchicine use, mechanisms behind adverse DDIs and various management options to minimise patient harm from colchicine DDIs. (Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 22, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
Addressing the opioid epidemic in Pakistan: urgent need for opioid stewardship and comprehensive solutions
(Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives)
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - September 5, 2023 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research
