The FDA has approved the use of a transcatheter mitral valve device (MitraClip – Abbott) for percutaneous treatment of significant symptomatic degenerative mitral regurgitation (grade 3-4+) in patients who are at prohibitive risk for mitral valve surgery. It is the first percutaneous nonsurgical treatment approved for this indication.

The FDA has approved Durlaza (New Haven Pharmaceuticals), a 24-hour extended-release (ER) aspirin formulation available only by prescription, for secondary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke.

View the Table: Over the Counter At-Home Tests for COVID-19

View the Comparison Chart: Some Drugs for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C)

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...

A 10-year study of daily oral alendronate (Fosamax) and a 7-year study of daily oral risedronate (Actonel) indicate that both drugs maintained increases in bone mineral density (BMD) and decreases in markers of bone remodeling throughout the study period. Both drugs are now more commonly taken once weekly. Available data are insufficient to compare fracture rates with alendronate and risedronate, and fracture rates are considered the most important endpoint in osteoporosis studies. Recent reports of severe pain and jaw osteonecrosis with these drugs are disturbing.

Dasatinib (Sprycel - Bristol-Myers Squibb), an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases, has been approved by the FDA for second-line treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) in adults.

Eculizumab (Soliris - Alexion) has been approved by the FDA for reduction of hemolysis in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare form of hemolytic anemia. A recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, eculizumab is the first drug to be marketed for this indication.

Tetrabenazine (Xenazine - Ovation Pharmaceuticals), an old drug first synthesized 50 years ago for treatment of schizophrenia, was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease. It has been available in other countries for decades.

Drugs for Diabetes (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2017; 59:9)In the 4th paragraph of the GLP-1 receptor agonists section, we mistakenly stated that Xultophy 100/3.6 is a combination of insulin degludec and albiglutide; Xultophy 100/3.6 is a combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide.Another Insulin Glargine (Basaglar) for Diabetes (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2017; 59:3)In the Dosage and Administration section, we removed the word "syringe" to describe Basaglar's KwikPen device. Basaglar is not available as a prefilled syringe; it is only available as a KwikPen.Download complete U.S. English...