Artesunate for injection (Amivas LLC), a semi-synthetic artemisinin derivative, is now approved by the FDA for initial (induction) treatment of severe malaria in children and adults. It has been available from the CDC on a compassionate use basis since 2007.1 Artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem), another artemisinin-based drug, was approved earlier for oral treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.2 IV artesunate is now the only FDA-approved injectable antimalarial drug available in the US; IV quinidine has been discontinued.

SEVERE MALARIA — Complications of severe malaria, which...  Continue reading

A transdermal formulation of the second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic asenapine (Secuado – Noven) has been approved by the FDA for once-daily treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Asenapine is the first antipsychotic to become available in a transdermal formulation in the US. A twice-daily sublingual tablet formulation of asenapine (Saphris) has been available since ... Continue reading