Most patients with diabetes mellitus now test their own blood glucose. In recent years, meters commercially available for self-testing have become smaller and easier to use.

Sermorelin acetate, a synthetic form of human growth-hormone-releasing factor has been approved by the FDA for treatment of idiopathic growth hormone deficiency in children with growth failure.

An automatic, noninvasive, glucose-monitoring device (GlucoWatch Biographer) has been approved for marketing by the FDA. The manufacturer states that it is not meant to replace a regular blood glucose meter.

The FDA has approved fixed-dose combinations of metformin with either canagliflozin (Invokamet) or dapagliflozin (Xigduo XR) for treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes not adequately controlled with any one of these drugs, or in those already being treated with both metformin and either canagliflozin or dapagliflozin.

The FDA has approved a new formulation of glucagon (Gvoke – Xeris) for subcutaneous treatment of severe hypoglycemia in patients ≥2 years old with diabetes. Conscious patients with symptoms of hypoglycemia can take oral glucose. Glucagon is usually administered by a caregiver to an unresponsive patient. The new formulation is available in a single-use prefilled syringe (Gvoke PFS) and is expected to become available in a single-use auto-injector (Gvoke HypoPen) in 2020. Unlike previously available injectable glucagon products (Glucagon Emergency Kit, and others), Gvoke does not...

Ciclopirox nail lacquer (Penlac - Dermik) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of mild-to-moderate onychomycosis due to Trichophyton rubrum, without involvement of the lunula. The drug has been available for many years as a lotion and cream (Loprox) for treatment of cutaneous fungal infection

The FDA has approved the somatostatin analog pasireotide diaspartate (Signifor – Novartis) for treatment of adults with Cushing's disease (cortisol excess caused by an ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor) who are not candidates for pituitary surgery or for whom surgery has not been curative. Pasireotide is the first drug approved in the US specifically to treat Cushing's disease. The antiprogestin mifepristone (Korlym) was approved last year for control of hyperglycemia in patients with Cushing's syndrome, which includes other causes of hypercortisolism, such as exogenous steroids and...

Omalizumab (Xolair) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody currently approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma. It has been used off-label for treatment of allergic rhinitis and food allergies. Recently the results of a phase III clinical trial indicated that omalizumab may be effective in treating chronic urticaria as well.

Nebivolol (Bystolic - Forest) is a new beta-blocker that has been approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertension. It has been marketed in Europe since 1999 for treatment of hypertension and heart failure.

Carteolol (Cartrol - Abbott) and penbutolol (Levatol - Reed & Carnrick), two oral beta-adrenergic blocking drugs, were recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for once-daily treatment of systemic hypertension. Both drugs are non-selective beta-blockers with mild partial agonist activity. Beta-blockers currently available in the USA for treatment of hypertension are listed in the table on the next page.