Annual vaccination in the US against influenza A and B viruses is recommended for everyone ≥6 months old without a contraindication. Influenza vaccines available in the US for the 2024-2025 season are listed in Table 2.

immune globulin (human) has been available for many years in an intramuscular (IM) formulation for prevention of Rh isoimmunization in pregnant Rh-negative women (Medical Letter, 16:3, 1974). Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first intravenous (IV) immune globulin preparation (WinRho SD - Univax), not only for preventing Rh isoimmunization, but also for treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in Rh-positive patients.

Bosentan (Tracleer - Actelion), a non-peptide endothelin receptor antagonist, has been approved by the FDA for oral treatment of patients who have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with symptoms of dyspnea at rest or with minimal exertion.

The FDA has approved prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs (Jeuveau – Evolus) for temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with corrugator and/or procerus muscle activity. Jeuveau is the fourth botulinum toxin product to be approved in the US for this indication (see Table 1). It has been available in South Korea as Nabota since 2014.

The FDA has approved a 1.5% topical foam formulation of minocycline (Zilxi – Foamix) for treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea in adults. It is the only topical minocycline product approved for this indication. The same manufacturer markets minocycline foam 4% (Amzeeq) for treatment of acne in patients ≥9 years old.

The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-23 antagonist mirikizumab-mrkz (Omvoh – Lilly) for treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults. Mirikizumab is the first selective IL-23 antagonist to be approved for this indication. Ustekinumab (Stelara), an IL-12/23 antagonist, was approved for treatment of UC in 2019. The IL-23 antagonist risankizumab (Skyrizi) is approved for treatment of Crohn's disease.

In the first six months of 1989, more than 7,000 cases of measles were reported to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a sharp increase over previous years (Morbid Mortal Weekly Rep, 33:456, July 7, 1989). Many of these cases occurred in children and college students who had previously been vaccinated against the disease. Practitioners have asked, therefore, whether their previously immunized young patients should receive a second (or, in some cases, third) immunization against measles.

The Norplant System (Wyeth-Ayerst) for subdermal delivery of the synthetic progestin levonorgestrel was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use as a long-term contraceptive.

Cabergoline (Dostinex - Pharmacia & Upjohn), an ergot alkaloid derivative recently marketed for treatment of hyperprolactinemia, is a selective D2 dopamine agonist that inhibits prolactin-secreting cells in the pituitary. Bromocriptine (Parlodel - Sandoz), the drug most commonly used for this condition, is also a D2 agonist, but affects D1 receptors as well.

The FDA has approved a rectal foam formulation of the corticosteroid budesonide (Uceris - Salix/Valeant) for induction of remission in patients with active mild to moderate distal ulcerative colitis (UC) extending up to 40 cm from the anal verge. Budesonide is also available as oral extended-release tablets (also branded as Uceris) for use in patients with UC and as oral enteric-coated tablets (Entocort EC, and generics) for treatment of Crohn's disease.