Nedocromil sodium (Tilade - Fisons), an anti-inflammatory drug similar to cromolyn sodium (Intal - Fisons), although chemically unrelated, is now available in the USA as a metered-dose inhaler for maintenance treatment of mild to moderate asthma.

Ophthalmic formulations of ketotifen fumarate (Zaditor), pemirolast potassium (Alamast) and nedocromil sodium (Alocril) have recently been approved by the FDA for use in adults and children with itching of the eyes due to allergic conjunctivitis.

Salmeterol xinafoate (Serevent - Allen & Hanburys), a long-acting β 2 -selective adrenergic agonist for inhalation, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for maintenance treatment of asthma, with or without concurrent use of inhaled corticosteroids. Salmeterol is not recommended for acute treatment of bronchospasm.

Zafirlukast (za fir loo kast; Accolate - Zeneca), the first leukotriene receptor anta-gonist approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, is now being heavily promoted for oral maintenance treatment of chronic asthma in patients more than 12 years old. It is not recommended for treatment of acute asthma.

Epinastine HCl, an H₁-receptor antagonist and mast cell stabilizer, has been approved by the FDA for use in a 0.05% ophthalmic solution (Elestat - Allergan/Inspire) for prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. The drug is available orally in Europe and Asia.

A 0.24% ophthalmic solution of the second-generation H₁-antihistamine cetirizine (Zerviate – Eyevance) is now available by prescription for treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis in patients ≥2 years old. Oral cetirizine (Zyrtec, and others), which is used for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis, has been available over the counter (OTC) for years.

Interferon β-1b (Betaseron - Berlex), an analog of human interferon β pro-duced in E. coli, may soon be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common form of the disease (G Mitchell, Med Clin North Am, 77:231, 1993).

Montelukast sodium (Singulair - Merck), a leukotriene receptor antagonist, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma in adults and children at least 6 years old. It is the third 'leukotriene modifier' to become available in the USA; zafirlukast (Accolate - Medical Letter, 38:111, 1996) and zileuton (Zyflo - Medical Letter, 39:18, 1997) were marketed previously. Neither zafirlukast nor zileuton has been approved by the FDA for use in children less than 12 years old. Leukotriene modifiers are not recommended for...

Bepotastine besilate 1.5% ophthalmic solution (Bepreve - ISTA Pharmaceuticals), an H₁-antihistamine, has been approved by the FDA for topical treatment of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis in patients ≥2 years old. Bepotastine was first developed in an oral systemic formulation and has been used as such for treatment of allergic rhinitis in Japan.

Alcaftadine (Lastacaft – Allergan), an ophthalmic H₁-antihistamine, has been approved by the FDA for prevention of itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis in patients > 2 years old.