The package inserts of the GLP-1 receptor agonists dulaglutide (Trulicity), exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon BCise), liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), and semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) and the dual glucosedependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) have been updated to include rare postmarketing reports of pulmonary aspiration associated with their use in patients undergoing elective surgery or other procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep sedation who had residual gastric contents despite preoperative...

Omlyclo (omalizumab-igec; Celltrion), a biosimilar product interchangeable with the recombinant anti-IgE monoclonal antibody Xolair, has been approved by the FDA for same indications as Xolair (see Table 1). Omlyclo is the first Xolair biosimilar to be approved in the US.

Transdermal nitroglycerin products commercially available in the USA are listed in the table below. These patches, which look like adhesive bandages, are often applied over the precordium, but they can be attached to any hairless area of the skin, except distal parts of the extremities. Individual patients vary in their absorption of nitroglycerin from the skin; the amounts delivered (the doses) are average figures.

This winter physicians in many area may see patients suffering from hypothermia. Old age, lack of adequate housing, drug overdose and alcohol ingestion are often prediposing factors, but hypothermia also occurs in healthy young people after prolonged exposure to cold due to incapacitating trauma or cold water immersion. Hypothermia associated with exhaustionduring outdoor sports activities can occur even at relatively mild temperatures.

High-dose chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation continues to be widely used in the treatment of malignant diseases (Medical Letter, 37:25, 1995). The source of the transplant has been autologous or allogeneic bone marrow or, more recently, stem and progenitor cells harvested from peripheral blood (Medical Letter, 37:71, 1995). Now, blood taken from the umbilical cord and placenta of a newborn infant is being tried as a source of cells to restore the bone marrow. A single collection of umbilical cord blood contains about as many progenitor cells as most autologous bone...

Ardeparin sodium (Normiflo - Wyeth-Ayerst), a low-molecular-weight heparin, and danaparoid sodium (Orgaran - Organon), a heparinoid, have been approved by the FDA for prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Without anticoagulation, deep vein thrombosis occurs in up to 30% of patients after abdominal surgery, and in 40% to 70% of patients after major orthopedic operations on the lower limbs. Danaparoid sodium is approved in the USA only for use in hip replacement. Ardeparin is approved here only for use in knee replacement.

The first human vaccine for prevention of Lyme disease (LYMErix), has been approved by the FDA for use in patients 15 to 70 years old.

Botulinum toxin type A has been marketed in the USA since 1989 for treatment of strabismus and blepharospasm and has also been used to treat cervical dystonia and some other muscular disorders.

Neotame (Neotame - NutraSweet Co.), an analog of aspartame (NutraSweet, and others), has been approved by the FDA for use as a nonnutritive sweetener and "flavor enhancer" in foods and beverages. Other non-caloric sweeteners available in the US include saccharin (Sweet'N Low, and others), acesulfame potassium (Sunette - Medical Letter, 1988; 30:116) and sucralose (Splenda - Medical Letter, 1998; 40:67). Neotame was approved for use in Australia and New Zealand in 2001.

The FDA has approved ferric carboxymaltose (Injectafer – American Regent), a 2-dose intravenous iron replacement product, for treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in adults who cannot tolerate or have had an unsatisfactory response to oral iron and in those who have non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is the sixth IV iron product approved in the US.