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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...

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.

In our October 26, 2015 article on drugs for hypothyroidism (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2015; 57:147), we said that levothyroxine should be taken on an empty stomach with a full glass of water 30-60 minutes (60 is preferable) before breakfast. We should have added that taking the drug consistently at bedtime, at least 3 hours after the last meal, is an alternative that some patients may find more convenient.

Production of erythropoietin, a glycoprotein hormone secreted mainly by the kidney, is often low in patients with chronic renal failure (JW Eschbach, Kidney Int, 35:134, 1989). The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved marketing of epoetin alfa (Epogen - Amgen), a recombinant human erythropoietin, for treatment of anemia in such patients. Epoetin is commercially available in Europe as Eprex (Ortho), and Eprex is available from Ortho in the USA on an investigational basis for treatment of anemia related to AIDS. Epogen and Eprex are chemically...