The recombinant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Arexvy (GSK) has now received FDA approval for use in adults 50-59 years old who are at increased risk for lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV. It was previously approved only for adults ≥60 years old. Two other RSV vaccines have received FDA approval: Abrysvo, a recombinant vaccine that is licensed for use in adults ≥60 years old and in pregnant women at 32-36 weeks' gestation to prevent RSV-associated LRTD in their infants, and mResvia, an mRNA vaccine recently licensed for use in adults ≥60 years old...

Recombinate (Baxter) and Kogenate (Miles), two recombinant-DNA-derived Factor VIII (rFVIII) preparations, were recently approved for marketing by the US Food and Drug Administration. Clotting factor concentrates are generally prepared from large plasma pools obtained from thousands of donors. Without adequate inactivation of viruses, these concentrates can transmit hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), among others. The new recombinant products, which include human albumin added as a stabilizer, are claimed to be free of blood-borne viruses.

Poractant alfa intratracheal suspension (Curosurf), a formulation of surfactant available in Europe since 1989, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Laparoscopic surgery has become increasingly popular for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The usual surgical procedure, a Nissen fundoplication, prevents reflux into the esophagus. The review compares medical treatment with a proton pump inhibitor vs. surgical therapy as well as open vs. the new laparoscopic technique. Morbidity and mortality with the procedures are discussed.

On February 27, 2021, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Johnson & Johnson adenovirus-based vaccine for prevention of COVID-19 in persons ≥18 years old. It is the third COVID-19 vaccine to become available in the US and the first to require only a single dose. Two-dose mRNA-based vaccines manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna received EUAs in December 2020.

In February 2021, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the investigational monoclonal antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab (Lilly) for use together to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in persons ≥12 years old who weigh ≥40 kg and are at high risk of progression to severe disease or hospitalization. The FDA has now expanded this EUA to allow use of the antibodies together for post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in such persons if they are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or are unlikely to have an adequate immune response to full vaccination and have...

Now that US Secretary of Defense has decided to vaccinate more than 2 million memebers of the US armed forces against anthrax, US physicians may be asked to answer some questions about the vaccine and the disease.

The FDA has approved the marketing of Natazia (Bayer), a 4-phase oral contraceptive containing the estrogen estradiol valerate and the progestin dienogest, both used for the first time in the US for this indication.

The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that adults with immunocompromising conditions receive the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13; Prevnar 13), even if they have already received the older 23-valent unconjugated vaccine (PPSV23; Pneumovax 23). Prevnar 13, initially approved by the FDA for use in infants and young children, has been licensed since December 2011 for adults ≥50 years old.

Electronic cigarettes, also called e-cigarettes, are advertised as a safer, more convenient, and socially acceptable alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes. Widely available in retail stores and on the Internet, their use has been increasing over recent years, primarily among smokers, but also among non-smokers.