The FDA has approved a subcutaneously administered 20% solution of human immune globulin (Cuvitru – Shire) for replacement therapy in patients ≥2 years old with a primary humoral immunodeficiency. Hizentra (CSL Behring), another subcutaneously administered 20% immune globulin solution, was approved in 2010 for the same indication. The IgG component of Cuvitru is similar to that of Gammagard Liquid and HyQvia, two subcutaneously administered 10% immune globulin formulations also manufactured by Shire and approved for treatment of primary...

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.

Teplizumab-mzwv (Tzield – Provention Bio), an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, has been approved by the FDA to delay the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in patients ≥8 years old who have stage 2 type 1 diabetes. It is the first drug to become available in the US that delays the onset of type 1 diabetes.

The FDA has approved Cabtreo (Bausch Health), a gel containing the retinoid adapalene, the oxidizing agent benzoyl peroxide, and the antibiotic clindamycin, for treatment of acne vulgaris in patients ≥12 years old. Cabtreo is the first three-drug topical formulation to become available in the US for treatment of acne.

The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved the marketing of G-CSF (recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, generic name filgrastim, Neupogen - Amgen) and GM-CSF (recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, generic name sargramostim, Leukine - Immunex, Prokine - Hoechst-Roussel). G-CSF is approved for use after cancer chemotherapy in patients with non-myeloid malignancies to decrease the incidence of infection. GM-CSF is approved for acceleration of myeloid recovery after autologous bone marrow transplantation in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,...

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.

Accidental needlesticks can lead to infection with hepatitis viruses, human immunodeficiency virus, and other blood-borne bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens (DK Henderson et al, Ann Intern Med, 113:740, 1990). Re-capping used needles is the most frequent cause of needlestick injuries (J Jagger et al, N Engl J Med, 319:284, 1988; MH Becker et al, Am J Infect Control, 18:232, 1990).

Because of concerns about the possibility of bioterrorism involving smallpox, the US government is reinstituting smallpox vaccination (https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/; www.idsociety.org/bt/toc.htm). Vaccination is currently expected to proceed in three phases: the military and hospital smallpox response teams first, other health care workers, police and firefighters second, and the general public in the third phase. Except for the military, vaccination will be...

The FDA has approved ThermaClear (Therative), a battery-powered, handheld device, to treat individual acne lesions with heat. ThermaClear is indicated only for use on mild to moderate inflammatory acne, not severe nodular or severe cystic acne, and it is not meant to be used on blackheads and whiteheads. Two similar devices are already on the market: Zeno, another handheld device that delivers heat to acne lesions, and the Radiancy Clear Touch Lite Acne Clearance System, a larger heat-delivery device.