Drospirenone (Slynd) - A New Progestin-Only Oral Contraceptive
Date: February 10, 2020
Issue #:
1591Summary:
The FDA has approved a progestin-only oral
contraceptive ( " minipill " ) containing drospirenone
(Slynd– Exeltis). All other progestin-only oral
contraceptives available in the US contain
norethindrone (Camila, and others). Progestin-only oral
contraceptives are similar in efficacy to combination
oral contraceptives. They are used predominantly by
breastfeeding women and by those in whom estrogen
is poorly tolerated or contraindicated. Combination
oral contraceptives containing drospirenone and
ethinyl estradiol have been available...
Source: The Medical Letter - January 2, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Reduction of Cardiovascular Risk with Icosapent Ethyl (Vascepa)
Date: February 10, 2020
Issue #:
1591Summary:
Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa– Amarin), the ethyl ester
of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), has been approved
by the FDA for use as an adjunct to maximally
tolerated statin therapy to reduce the risk of major
adverse cardiovascular events in adults with
hypertriglyceridemia (≥150 mg/dL) who have either
established cardiovascula r disease (CVD) or diabetes
and ≥2 additional risk factors for CVD. It is the only
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) product
to be approved in the US for this indication. Icosapent
ethyl and two other omeg...
Source: The Medical Letter - January 2, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Istradefylline (Nourianz) for Parkinson's Disease
Date: February 10, 2020
Issue #:
1591Summary:
The FDA has approved istradefylline (Nourianz—
Kyowa Kirin), an oral adenosine A2A receptor antagonist,
for use as an adjunct to carbidopa/levodopa in adults
with Parkinson ' s disease (PD) who experience " off "
episodes. Istradefylline is the first adenosine A2A
receptor antagonist to be approved in the US; it has
been available in Japan since 2013. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - January 2, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Source Type: research
Drugs for ADHD
Date: January 27, 2020
Issue #:
1590Summary:
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a
chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that has been
diagnosed in up to 10% of school-age children in the
US and frequently persists into adulthood. A study in
a large Danish cohort found that ADHD was associated
with higher mortality rates in children, adolescents,
and adults, mainly due to accidents. Pharmacologic
treatment of ADHD in children has been reported to
decrease the risk of substance abuse in adolescents,
and use of ADHD medications in adults has been
associated with a redu...
Source: The Medical Letter - January 2, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Adderall Adhansia ADHD Adzenys Amphetamine Aptensio Atomoxetine Biphentin Clonidine Concerta Cotempla daytrana Dexedrine Dexmethylphenidate Dextroamphetamine Dyanavel Evekeo Focalin Foquest Guanfacine Intuniv Jorn Source Type: research
In Brief: Tafamidis (Vyndaqel; Vyndamax) for Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy
CONCLUSION —Tafamidis(Vyndaqel; Vyndamax) can decrease the number of hospitalizations and deaths in patients with transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Taking 20 mg ofVyndaqel daily appears to be as effective as 80 mg and costs much less. Long-term data on the comparative efficacy of the two doses are not available.MA Gertz et al. Diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of transthyretin amyloidosis. J Am Coll Cardiol 2015; 66:2451.FL Ruberg and JL Berk. Transthyretin (TTR) cardiac amyloidosis. Circulation 2012; 126:1286.MS Maurer et al. Tafamidis treatment for patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopat...
Source: The Medical Letter - December 16, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: inotersen Onpattro patisiran tafamidis Tegsedi Vyndaqel Vyndmax Source Type: research
Darolutamide (Nubeqa) for Prostate Cancer
Date: December 16, 2019
Issue #:
1587Summary:
The FDA has approved darolutamide (Nubeqa–
Bayer), an androgen receptor inhibitor, for oral
treatment of nonmetastatic castration-resistant
prostate cancer (nmCRPC). Darolutamide is the third
androgen receptor inhibitor to be approved for this
indication; apalutamide(Erleada) and enzalutamide(Xtandi), which are also approved for use in patients
with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
(mCRPC), were approved earlier. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - December 9, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: apalutamide darolutamide enzalutamide Erleada Nubeqa Prostate cancer Xtandi Source Type: research
Annovera - A New Contraceptive Vaginal Ring
Date: December 16, 2019
Issue #:
1587Summary: Annovera (TherapeuticsMD), a contraceptive vaginal
ring that releases segesterone acetate, a synthetic
progestin, and ethinyl estradiol, was approved by the
FDA in 2018 and is now available. It is the first product
to contain segesterone and the second vaginal ring
to become available in the US;NuvaRing, which
delivers etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol, was the
first. UnlikeNuvaRing, which requires use of a new
ring each month, theAnnovera ring can be used for
an entire year, but it must be removed for one week
each month. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - December 9, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Annovera Contraceptives Estrogens etonogestrel IUD Nexplanon NuvaRing ombitasvir paritaprevir Progestins Ritonavir segesterone Technivie Viekira Pak Source Type: research
Corticosteroids in Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Date: January 13, 2020
Issue #:
1589Summary:
Recently updated guidelines from the American
Thoracic Society (ATS) and the Infectious Diseases
Society of America (IDSA) address the use of
corticosteroids as an adjunct to antimicrobials for
treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - December 9, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: corticosteroids Hydrocortisone Methylprednisolone Prednisone Source Type: research
Antiviral Drugs for Influenza
Date: January 13, 2020
Issue #:
1589Summary:
Influenza is generally a self-limited illness, but
pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death can occur.
FDA-approved antiviral drugs for influenza are listed
in Table 2. The neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir
(Tamiflu, and generics), which is taken orally, and
zanamivir(Relenza), which is inhaled, are approved
for prophylaxis and treatment of acute uncomplicated
influenza. The IV neuraminidase inhibitor peramivir(Rapivab) and the oral polymerase acidic (PA)
endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir marboxil(Xofluza)
are approved only for trea...
Source: The Medical Letter - December 9, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Antiviral drugs baloxavir marboxil FluMist influenza Influenza vaccine Oseltamivir Peramivir Rapivab Relenza Tamiflu Xofluza Zanamivir Source Type: research
Letermovir (Prevymis) for CMV Prophylaxis
Date: December 16, 2019
Issue #:
1587Summary:
The FDA has approved letermovir (Prevymis– Merck),
a cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA terminase complex
inhibitor, for prophylaxis of CMV infection and disease
in CMV-seropositive adult recipients of an allogeneic
hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). Letermovir is
the first CMV DNA terminase complex inhibitor to
be approved in the US and the on ly drug specifically
indicated for CMV prophylaxis in HCT patients. It is not
approved for treatment of CMV infection. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - November 12, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Cidofovir Cytovene Foscarnet Foscavir Ganciclovir letermovir Prevymis Valcyte Valganciclovir Source Type: research
Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor (Trikafta) for Cystic Fibrosis
Date: January 13, 2020
Issue #:
1589Summary:
The FDA has approvedTrikafta (Vertex), a fixed-dose
combination of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane
conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators elexacaftor,
tezacaftor, and ivacaftor, for oral treatment of cystic
fibrosis (CF) in patients≥12 years old who have at
least one Phe508del mutation in the CFTR gene. About
90% of patients with CF have at least one copy of the
Phe508del (also called F508del) mutation. This is the
first approval for elexacaftor. Ivacaftor is available
alone(Kalydeco) and in 2-drug combinations with
tezacaftor(Sy...
Source: The Medical Letter - November 12, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Cystic fibrosis elexacaftor ivacaftor Kalydeco lumacaftor Orkambi Symdeco Symdeko tezacaftor Trikafta Source Type: research
Trifarotene (Aklief) - A New Topical Retinoid for Acne
Date: December 16, 2019
Issue #:
1587Summary:
The FDA has approved trifarotene 0.005% cream
(Aklief– Galderma) for topical treatment of acne
vulgaris in patients ≥9 years old. Trifarotene is the
fourth topical retinoid to be approved in the US for
treatment of acne; tretinoin (Retin-A, and others),
adapalene (Differin, and generics), and tazarotene
(Tazorac, and others) have been available by
prescription for decades. Adapalene 0.1% gel has been
available over the counter since 2016 for treatment of
acne in patients ≥12 years old. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - November 12, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Acne Adapalene Aklief Atralin Avita Benzoyl peroxide Biacna Clindamycin Differin Epiduo Retin-A Retinoids Stieva Tactupump Tazarotene Tazorac Tretinoin trifarotene Veltin Ziana Source Type: research
Drugs for Psoriatic Arthritis
Date: December 30, 2019
Issue #:
1588Summary:
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory
arthropathy associated with psoriasis. A recent review
found that about 20% of patients with psoriasis have
psoriatic arthritis. Updated guidelines for treatment
of psoriatic arthritis have recently been published. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - November 12, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: Abatacept Adalimumab apremilast Arava Avsola Azulfidine biosimilars Brenzys Celebrex Celecoxib Certolizumab Cholestyramine corticosteroids Cosentyx Cyclosporine Enbrel Erelzi Etanercept Eticovo Gengraf Golimumab H Source Type: research
Drugs for Common Eye Disorders
Date: December 2, 2019
Issue #:
1586Summary:
This issue includes reviews of drugs for glaucoma,
age-related macular degeneration (AMD), bacterial
conjunctivitis, and dry eye disease. Allergic conjunctivitis
is reviewed in a separate issue. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - October 25, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: aflibercept Age-related macular degeneration Alphagan Apraclonidine Avastin Azasite Azithromycin Azopt Bacitracin Beovu Besifloxacin Besivance Beta blockers Beta carotene Betagan Betaxolol Betimol Betoptic Bevacizumab Source Type: research
Drugs for Some Common Eye Disorders
Date: December 2, 2019
Issue #:
1586Summary:
This issue includes reviews of drugs for glaucoma,
age-related macular degeneration (AMD), bacterial
conjunctivitis, and dry eye disease. Allergic conjunctivitis
is reviewed in a separate issue. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Source: The Medical Letter - October 25, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: admin Tags: aflibercept Age-related macular degeneration Alphagan Apraclonidine Avastin Azasite Azithromycin Azopt Bacitracin Beovu Besifloxacin Besivance Beta blockers Beta carotene Betagan Betaxolol Betimol Betoptic Bevacizumab Source Type: research
