The FDA has approved the nucleoside analog telbivudine (Tyzeka - Novartis/Idenix) for treatment of patients ≥16 years old with active chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. It is the fourth oral drug marketed for this indication in the US.

Three rapid-acting insulin analogs are currently available: insulin lispro, insulin aspart and insulin glulisine. 1-3 All three are approved for use in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, either by subcutaneous injection, insulin pump or intravenous administration. All three cost more than regular insulin.

Insulin glulisine (Apidra - Sanofi Aventis) is the third rapid-acting insulin analog to be marketed in the US, following insulin lispro (Humalog) and insulin aspart (Novolog). All three have a more rapid onset and shorter duration of action than regular human insulin. Rapid-acting insulin analogs are generally taken immediately before meals and are usually combined with a long-acting basal insulin.

Amprenavir is the fifth protease inhibitor to become available for treatment of HIV infection. It was approved by the FDA for use with other drugs in the treatment of HIV-infected adults and children at least four years old.

Nateglinide (Starlix), a new meglitinide oral glucose-lowering agent, has been approved by the FDA.

The FDA has approved an inhaled, rapid-acting, dry-powder formulation of recombinant human insulin (Afrezza – Mannkind/Sanofi) for treatment of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In patients with type 1 diabetes, the drug must be used in combination with long-acting insulin. Another inhaled, rapid-acting insulin (Exubera) was approved in 2006 for the same indication, but was withdrawn from the market the following year.

With increasing travel, immigration, use of immunosuppressive drugs and the spread of AIDS, physicians anywhere may see infections caused by parasites. The table in this document lists first-choice and alternative drugs for most parasitic infections.

Rosiglitazone, the second thiazolidinedione derivative to be marketed in the USA for treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been approved by the FDA for use either alone or combined with meformin.

The FDA has approved insulin degludec (Tresiba – Novo Nordisk) for treatment of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Insulin degludec is the third long-acting human insulin analog to be approved by the FDA; insulin detemir (Levemir) and insulin glargine (Lantus, Toujeo) were approved earlier.

Cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor that has been used in Japan since 1988, has been approved by the FDA for treatment on intermittent claudication due to occlusive peripheral arterial disease.