Tuberculosis (TB) is still a common cause of death worldwide, and the prevalence of drug-resistant TB poses challenges to its treatment and control. Guidelines with detailed management recommendations are available from the American Thoracic Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

Among patients with chronic heart failure, those with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% are considered to have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Patients with a LVEF ≥50% are considered to have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Those with a LVEF of 41-49% are an intermediate group more similar to patients with HFpEF.

Aripiprazole (Abilify - Bristol-Myers Squibb/Otsuka), a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic drug, was approved by the FDA in 2002 for treatment of schizophrenia and more recently for bipolar disorder as well. It has been promoted as causing fewer adverse effects than other antipsychotics, without sacrificing efficacy.

Augmentation with a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic is a treatment option for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) whose symptoms persist following antidepressant monotherapy. Aripiprazole (Abilify), olanzapine in a fixed-dose combination with fluoxetine (Symbyax), and extended-release quetiapine (Seroquel XR) have been approved by the FDA for such use.

Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of thromboembolic stroke. Anticoagulant therapy can reduce this risk and is recommended for patients with atrial fibrillation and one or more of the following: congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes, or prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (CHADS₂ score ≥1).

The FDA has approved the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda – Merck), a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that highly expresses programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and has no epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) translocations. About 25% of patients with advanced NSCLC have tumors with high levels of PD-L1 expression (PD-L1 expressed on ≥50% of tumor cells). Pembrolizumab was approved earlier for treatment...

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...

Cisapride (Propulsid - Janssen), a piperidinyl benzamide prokinetic drug, is now available in the USA for symptomatic relief of nocturnal heartburn due to gastroesophageal reflux disease. In Canada, cisapride is also marketed for treatment of gastroparesis.

The FDA has approved pegvisomant (Somavert Pfizer), a growth hormone receptor antagonist, for parenteral treatment of acromegaly in patients who are not candidates for or have had an inadequate response to surgery or other treatment. This review describes the disease of acromegaly and its standard treatment options. Also included are sections on the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, drug interactions, and the dosage and cost of pegvisomant. Results of clinical studies are discussed. The conclusion provides an overall assessment of the prospects for this new drug.

Zolmitriptan (Zomig - AstraZeneca) nasal spray was recently approved by the FDA for treatment of migraine. It is the second selective serotonin receptor agonist ("triptan") to become available as a nasal spray; sumatriptan has been available in this form since 1997. Some patients with migraine cannot take tablets because of nausea and vomiting, and nasal sprays are more convenient than subcutaneous injections.