Idarubicin hydrochloride (Idamycin - Adria), an anthracycline structurally related to daunorubicin (Cerubidine, and others) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin, and others), was recently approved in the USA for treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in adults.

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).

Fungal infections of the fingernails or toenails can persist for months or years despite topical and systemic antimicrobial therapy. The FDA has cleared several short-pulse laser systems for treatment of this mainly cosmetic disorder.

The results of a clinical trial (PRECISION) comparing the cardiovascular safety of the COX-2 selective NSAID celecoxib (Celebrex, and generics) with that of ibuprofen and naproxen, which are nonselective, have been described in the lay press in terms that may overestimate the safety of celecoxib.

The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin (Farxiga – AstraZeneca) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at risk of progression (not defined in the label). Dapagliflozin is the first SGLT2 inhibitor to be approved in the US for treatment of CKD.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is associated with sunburn, photoaging, and skin cancer. Sunscreens are widely used to reduce these risks, but questions remain about their effectiveness and safety. The FDA has issued a proposed rule that would require manufacturers to perform additional safety studies for some sunscreen active ingredients and would mandate better UVA protection in sunscreen products. Some sunscreen products containing FDA-approved active ingredients are listed in Table 2.

The FDA has expanded its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) to permit use of the bivalent formulation (containing mRNA from the original and BA.4/5 Omicron strains of SARS-CoV-2) as a booster dose in children 6 months to 4 years old who completed the primary series with 3 doses of the monovalent formulation ≥2 months previously. The Pfizer bivalent vaccine had previously been authorized for use as a booster dose in persons ≥5 years old and as a third primary dose in children 6 months to 4 years old. Booster...

View the Table: GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Chronic Weight Management

Cytomegalovirus immune globulin (CMVIG) for intravenous administration is now available in the USA on an investigational basis (FE Young and SL Nightingale, JAMA, 260:224, July 8, 1988) for prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in CMV-seronegative renal transplant recipients who receive a kidney from a seropositive donor. CMVIG contains IgG antibodies from a pool of healthy donors with high titers of antibodies against CMV. The drug can be obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Biologic Laboratories (617-522-3700, extension 264) or the American Red Cross...

High doses of various hormones have been used for many years to prevent pregnancy after unprotected coitus. Diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen, was once approved for this purpose by the US Food and Drug Administration (Medical Letter 15:58, 1973), but no drug is now approved for such use. Ovral, an oral contraceptive containing 50 g of the estrogen ethinyl estradiol and 0.5 mg of the progestin norgestrel, has been recommended as a 'morning-after' pill by some physicians (RA Hatcher et al, Contraceptive Technology 1988-1989, 14th ed., New York:Irvington, 1988, page...