Millions of people now take herbal products and other "dietary supplements." The Physicians' Desk Reference has published a PDR for Herbal Medicines listing their ingredients and indications, and the Drug Topics Red Book lists their prices.

Combination oral contraceptives increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Their benefits, in addition to preventing pregnancy, include lowering the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, reducing dysfunctional uterine bleeding and increasing serum hemoglobin concentrations. Are these benefits worth the risk? And are some combination oral contraceptives safer than others?

The FDA has approved ofatumumab (Arzerra – GlaxoSmithKline), a human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, for treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) refractory to fludarabine (Fludara, and others) and alemtuzumab (Campath). It is the second anti-CD20 antibody approved for treatment of CLL; rituximab (Rituxan), a chimeric murine/human antibody, was the first.

The FDA has approved pralatrexate (Folotyn – Allos), an intravenous (IV) antifolate, for treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). It is the first drug approved by the FDA specifically for this indication.

The FDA recently approved Skyla (Bayer), the first new intrauterine device (IUD) in the US in 12 years. It releases levonorgestrel, a synthetic progestin, over a period of 3 years. A table summarizing contraceptive methods available in the US appears on page 22.

The FDA has approved the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor ripretinib (Qinlock – Deciphera) for treatment of adults with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) who have previously received treatment with ≥3 kinase inhibitors, including imatinib (Gleevec, and generics).

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Oat bran, the ground inner husk of the grain, has recently become popular as a dietary means of lowering blood lipids. It is available both separately and as a constituent of oatmeal, which is the ground product of the whole grain. Oat bran and oatmeal are available in various breakfast cereals and can also be used in baked goods, such as muffins or bread. Some of these sources are listed in the table on page 112.

Imatinib mesylate (STI-571; Gleevec - Novartis), an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of all phases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after interferon has failed.

The FDA has approved romidepsin (Istodax – Celgene), an IV histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, for treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in patients who have received at least one prior systemic therapy. The most common types of CTCL are mycosis fungoides, a low-grade lymphoma usually confined to the skin, and Sézary syndrome, a more aggressive disease with malignant lymphocytes in the blood. Both can progress to fatal systemic involvement. Romidepsin is the second HDAC inhibitor approved for this indication; vorinostat (Zolinza), an oral HDAC inhibitor, was approved...