Pegaspargase (peg as par jase; PEG-L-asparaginase; Oncaspar - Rh ne-Poulenc Rorer), a polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugate of L-asparaginase, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common malignancy of childhood. The new drug is recommended only for patients who have had allergic reactions to asparaginase. Asparaginase is available commercially as Elspar, which is derived from Escherichia coli. A formulation derived from Erwinia chrysanthemi is available on an investigational basis (Ogden Bioservices,...

Abciximab (ab sik si mab; ReoPro - Centocor), the Fab (fragment antigen binding) fragment of the chimeric human-murine monoclonal antibody 7E3 (c7E3 Fab), has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as an adjunct to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or atherectomy (PTCA) to prevent abrupt closure of the treated coronary vessel.

Epoprostenol sodium (Flolan - Glaxo Wellcome), also known as prostacyclin, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for continuous intravenous treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension.

Ibutilide fumarate (Corvert - Pharmacia & Upjohn), a new antiarrhythmic drug for intravenous use, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for acute termination of atrial fibrillation or flutter of recent onset.

Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone - Teva Marion Partners), formerly known as copolymer-l, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Interferon β-1b (Betaseron) and interferon β-1a (Avonex - Medical Letter, 38:63, 1996) were previously approved for this indication.

Extracts made from leaves of the ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) are available in the uSA as deitary supplements, in France and Germany as licensed drugs and worldwide as herbal remedies for treatment of dementia and many other indications.

Tolterodine tartrate (Detrol - Pharmacia & Upjohn) is a new muscarinic receptor antagonist now being widely promoted for treatment of urinary frequency, urgency and urge incontinence caused by bladder (detrusor) overactivity.

Nearly 30 years after the first publication of Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution promoting a high-protein, extremely low-carbohydrate diet, patients once again are asking their physicians about the Atkins diet.

The CDC recently reported that fluoroquinoloneresistant strains of Neisseria meningitidis have been detected for the first time in the US in an area around the border of North Dakota and Minnesota (CDC. MMWR, Feb 22, 2008). These isolates were all serogroup B, for which meningococcal vaccines (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2005; 47:29) do not offer protection. Since many laboratories do not test N. meningitidis for antimicrobial susceptibility, it is possible that such resistance is more widespread. A single oral dose of ciprofloxacin (Cipro, and others) 500 mg has been used for prophylaxis after close...

The FDA has approved incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin – Merz) for treatment of cervical dystonia and blepharospasm in adults. It has been commercially available in Germany since 2005. Several formulations of botulinum toxin type A (Botox; Dysport) and type B (Myobloc) are already marketed for treatment of cervical dystonia. Botox is also approved for treatment of blepharospasm.