1
In Brief: New FDA Warning of Pulmonary Aspiration with GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 23, 2024; (Issue 1718)
The package inserts of the GLP-1 receptor agonists
dulaglutide (Trulicity), exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon
BCise), liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), and semaglutide
(Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) and the dual glucosedependent
insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1
receptor agonist tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound)
have been updated to include rare postmarketing
reports of pulmonary aspiration associated with their
use in patients undergoing elective surgery or other
procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep
sedation who had residual gastric contents despite
preoperative fasting.
2
In Brief: Alternatives to Adderall
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 28, 2022; (Issue 1664)
The short-acting formulation of mixed amphetamine
salts (Adderall, and generics) FDA-approved for
treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) and narcolepsy, is currently in short supply in
the US. Until an adequate supply is restored, patients
may be looking for alternatives.
3
In Brief: Obecabtagene Autoleucel (Aucatzyl) - Another CAR-T Cell Immunotherapy for ALL (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 23, 2024; (Issue 1718)
Obecabtagene autoleucel (Aucatzyl – Autolus), a
CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell
immunotherapy, has been approved by the FDA for
treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adults. The
CAR T-cell immunotherapy products tisagenlecleucel
(Kymriah) and brexucabtagene auto-leucel (Tecartus)
were approved earlier for the same indication.
4
Drugs for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 6, 2025; (Issue 1719)
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has two
major forms: dry or non-neovascular (~90% of
patients) and wet or neovascular (~10% of patients).
5
In Brief: OTC Ivermectin for Head Lice
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 26, 2023; (Issue 1679)
Topical ivermectin lotion 0.5% (Sklice, and generics),
which has been available by prescription since 2012,
is now FDA-approved for sale over the counter (OTC)
for treatment of head lice in patients ≥6 months old.
Ivermectin is also available by prescription as a 1%
cream (Soolantra) approved for topical treatment of
inflammatory lesions of rosacea and in oral tablets
(Stromectol, and generics) for treatment of various
parasitic infections.
6
Vyalev — Foscarbidopa/Foslevodopa Subcutaneous Infusion for Parkinson's Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 6, 2025; (Issue 1719)
Vyalev (Abbvie), a solution for continuous subcutaneous
infusion containing the prodrugs foscarbidopa
and foslevodopa, has been approved by the FDA
for treatment of motor fluctuations in adults with
advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Vyalev is the first
subcutaneously administered product to become
available in the US for treatment of PD symptoms. Duopa,
a carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension infused via a
nasojejunal tube or percutaneous gastrostomy, was
approved in for the same indication 2015.
7
Elafibranor (Iqirvo) for Primary Biliary Cholangitis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 23, 2024; (Issue 1718)
Elafibranor (Iqirvo – Ipsen), a peroxisome proliferator-activated
receptor (PPAR) agonist, has been granted
accelerated approval by the FDA for treatment of
primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in adults. It is
indicated for use in combination with ursodeoxycholic
acid (ursodiol, UDCA; Urso, and others) in patients
with an inadequate response to UDCA alone and as
monotherapy in those unable to tolerate UDCA.
8
Qlosi — Pilocarpine 0.4% Ophthalmic Solution for Presbyopia
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 6, 2025; (Issue 1719)
The FDA has approved pilocarpine 0.4% preservativefree
ophthalmic solution (Qlosi – Orasis) for treatment
of presbyopia in adults. Pilocarpine 1.25% ophthalmic
solution (Vuity) was approved in 2021 for the same
indication. Pilocarpine 1%, 2%, and 4% ophthalmic
solutions (Isopto Carpine, and others) have been
available for years for treatment of glaucoma, but
local (e.g., blurry vision and instillation-site pain)
and systemic (e.g., sweating and GI disturbances)
adverse effects have limited their use.
9
Revumenib (Revuforj) for Acute Leukemia (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 6, 2025; (Issue 1719)
Revumenib (Revuforj – Syndax), an oral menin
inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for treatment
of relapsed or refractory acute leukemia in patients
≥1 year old with a lysine methyltransferase 2A gene
(KMT2A) translocation. It is the first menin inhibitor to
be approved in the US.
10
Crexont — Extended-Release Carbidopa/Levodopa for Parkinson's Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 23, 2024; (Issue 1718)
The FDA has approved Crexont (Amneal), an
extended-release capsule formulation of carbidopa/levodopa, for treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD),
postencephalitic parkinsonism, and parkinsonism
associated with carbon monoxide or manganese
intoxication. Crexont contains a combination of
immediate-release carbidopa/levodopa granules and
extended-release levodopa pellets. An extended-release
carbidopa/levodopa oral capsule (Rytary) has
been available from the same manufacturer for years;
the patent for Rytary expires in 2025.