Recombinant alpha interferon has been marketed in the USA for treatment of hairy-cell leukemia, genital warts, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (Medical Letter, 28:78, 1986; 30:70, 1988). Recent reports indicate it may also be useful for treatment of chronic viral hepatitis. Recombinant alpha interferon is available as alfa-2a (Roferon-A - Roche) or alfa-2b (Intron A - Schering), which are identical except for one amino acid.

Many patients with hypertension require more than one drug to control their blood pressure. Tribenzor (Daiichi Sankyo), recently approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertension, combines the calcium channel blocker amlodipine (Norvasc, and others), the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan (Benicar)and the most commonly prescribed diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). Tribenzor is not approved for initial therapy, but is recommended for patients not adequately controlled on any 2-drug combination of a calcium channel blocker, an ARB or a diuretic.

The FDA has approved the use of dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine; Ampyra – Acorda), a potassium channel blocker, to improve walking speed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Walking speed is considered a reliable clinical measure of impairment in patients with MS.

The FDA has approved the use of nitroglycerin ointment 0.4% (Rectiv – ProStrakan/Aptalis) for treatment of moderate to severe pain associated with chronic anal fissure; the same drug is marketed as Rectogesic in Europe. Nitroglycerin ointment 2% (Nitro-Bid) is available in the US for prevention of angina.

The FDA has approved enzalutamide (en za loo’ ta mide; Xtandi – Astellas/Medivation) for oral treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in patients previously treated with docetaxel (Taxotere, and generics). It is the second oral drug approved for this indication; abiraterone acetate (Zytiga), which is also approved for first-line use, was the first. Cabazitaxel (Jevtana), which is given parenterally, has a similar indication.

The FDA has approved lanadelumab-flyo (Takhzyro – Takeda), a subcutaneously-administered plasma kallikrein inhibitor, for prevention of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in adults and children ≥12 years old. Lanadelumab is the third drug to be approved for this indication; the human plasmaderived C1 esterase inhibitors (C1INHs) Cinryze, which is administered IV, and Haegarda, which is given SC, have been available for years for HAE prophylaxis in patients ≥6 years old.

The opioid agonist tramadol is now available in an oral solution (Qdolo – Athena Bioscience) for management of pain severe enough to require an opioid and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate. Tramadol has been available for years in immediate-release tablets and capsules, extended-release capsules (Ultram, and others), and in a fixed-dose combination tablet with acetaminophen (Ultracet, and generics).

Cefprozil (Cefzil - Bristol-Myers Squibb), a new oral second-generation cephalosporin, was recently released in the USA for treatment of pharyngitis, bronchitis, otitis media, and skin and skin-structure infections.

Enoxaparin (Lovenox - Rh ne-Poulenc Rorer), the first low-molecular-weight heparin to become commercially available in the USA, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for prevention of deep vein thrombosis following hip replacement. Five other products have been marketed in Europe.

Valsartan (Diovan - Novartis), a non-peptide tetrazole, is the second angiotensin II receptor antagonist approved for oral treatment of hypertension by the US Food and Drug Administration. The first was losartan (Cozaar - Medical Letter, 37:57, 1995).