The FDA has approved 2 intranasal HFA (hydrofluoroalkane) aerosols of the corticosteroids beclomethasone dipropionate (Qnasl – Teva Respiratory) and ciclesonide (Zetonna – Sunovion) for once-daily treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis. They are the first HFA nasal steroids to become available in the US (HFA propellants do not deplete the ozone layer). Both drugs are already available for these indications as aqueous nasal sprays. Aqueous ("wet") formulations can cause adverse effects such as postnasal drip, moist feeling in the nose, strong odor, and bitter aftertaste,...

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which was traditionally a nosocomially-acquired organism but now frequently occurs in the absence of healthcare exposure, is the predominant cause of suppurative skin and soft-tissue infections in many parts of the US. Community-associated MRSA usually causes furunculosis, purulent cellulitis, and abscesses, but necrotizing fasciitis, necrotizing pneumonia, and sepsis can also occur.

The FDA has approved icatibant (Firazyr – Shire), a selective bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, for treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE). HAE is a rare autosomal dominant disorder (estimated prevalence 1:10,000-50,000) in which patients experience recurrent and frequently unpredictable attacks of angioedema lasting 2-5 days, typically involving the extremities, gastrointestinal tract, genitalia, face, oropharynx or larynx. Laryngeal edema may be life-threatening. HAE is usually caused by a mutation of the C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) gene. C1-INH is a serine proteinase...

The oral retinoid isotretinoin (Accutane, and others) is the most effective drug available for treatment of acne.1 The FDA has recently approved a new oral isotretinoin product (Absorica – Cipher/Ranbaxy) for treatment of severe, recalcitrant nodular acne.Isotretinoin can completely clear severe nodulocystic lesions, in some cases leading to remission that can persist for years after treatment is stopped. Mucocutaneous adverse effects include dry skin, dry eye, epistaxis, nasopharyngitis, cheilitis, alopecia, eczema, skin fragility and photosensitivity. Musculoskeletal symptoms,...

View the Comparison Table: Some Nasal Sprays for Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Breathe Right, an adhesive bandage device that pulls open the nostrils, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and is being heavily promoted to the general public as a treatment for snoring and night-time nasal congestion. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $4.99 for a box of 10 strips.

The FDA has approved peginterferon alfa-2b (Sylatron – Merck) for adjuvant treatment of node-positive melanoma after surgical resection. Pegylated interferon has a longer duration of action than interferon alfa-2b (Intron A), which is also FDA-approved for adjuvant treatment of malignant melanoma after surgery, and can be given once a week, compared to 3-5 times a week for standard interferon.

Truvada (Gilead), an oral fixed-dose combination of the antiretrovirals emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate frequently used for treatment of HIV infection,1 has now also been approved by the FDA for pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 in adults at high risk. It is the first drug to be approved for this indication. The CDC has been recommending Truvada off-label for pre-exposure prophylaxis in men who have sex with men since 2011.2 A 30-day supply of Truvada costs about $1160.3CLINICAL STUDIES — Approval for the new indication was based on 2...

The FDA has approved the use of the oral multikinase inhibitor sorafenib (Nexavar – Bayer) for treatment of locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, differentiated thyroid cancer (papillary or follicular) refractory to radioactive iodine treatment. Sorafenib was approved earlier for treatment of advanced renal cell and unresectable hepatocellular cancer.

The FDA has approved the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) esomeprazole strontium for use in adults for the same indications as esomeprazole magnesium (Nexium): treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), prevention of NSAID-induced gastric ulcers, eradication of Helicobacter pylori, and treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions. It was first marketed in December 2013 as a branded drug (Esomeprazole Strontium) and a month later as a generic drug.Strontium is incorporated into bone. It is not recommended for use in children or during pregnancy because of the absence of safety data...