The FDA has authorized over-the-counter (OTC) sale of a nonmedicated alcohol-based gel (Eroxon – Futura) for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in males ≥22 years old. Eroxon is the only FDA-approved OTC and topical treatment for erectile dysfunction. It is also available in the UK and the EU.

Zenocutuzumab (Bizengri – Merus), a bispecific HER2- and HER3-directed antibody, has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of advanced, unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or pancreatic adenocarcinoma harboring a neuregulin 1 (NRG1) gene fusion in adults who had disease progression on or after prior systemic therapy. It is the first drug to be approved in the US for treatment of NRG1-positive cancers. Accelerated approval of zenocutuzumab was based on the overall response rate and duration of response.

View the Comparison Chart: Some Drugs for Abdominal Pain in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The FDA recently approved three new drugs for treatment of hyperlipidemia. Ezetimibe (ez et' i mibe; Zetia) is the first in a new class of drugs that inhibit intestinal absorption of cholesterol. Extended-release lovastatin (Altocor) is a new formulation of lovastatin (Mevacor, and others). Extended-release niacin plus (immediate-release) lovastatin (Advicor) is the first fixed-dose combination of lipid-lowering drugs.

Acamprosate calcium (Campral - Forest) is now being marketed for oral use to maintain abstinence from alcohol. It has been used in France and other countries since 1989.

Tigecycline (Tygacil - Wyeth), a derivative of minocycline, is a new intravenous (IV) antibiotic approved for treatment of complicated intra-abdominal and skin and skin-structure infections.

Anidulafungin (ay nid yoo la fun jin; Eraxis - Pfizer), a third intravenous echinocandin antifungal, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of esophageal candidiasis, candidemia, and other complicated Candida infections (intra-abdominal abscess or peritonitis).

Sunitinib (Sutent - Pfizer) and sorafenib (Nexavar - Bayer), two oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have been approved by the FDA for treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Sunitinib is also approved for use in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who are not responding to or are intolerant of standard therapy with imatinib (Gleevec).

In the US, over one third of adults under the age of 35 and about one quarter of those aged 18-50 now have at least one tattoo. In later life, some people come to regret their tattoos, but tattoo inks can be difficult and expensive to remove.2 Recently, some new tattoo inks have been designed for improved safety and ease of removal.

The FDA has approved the marketing of desvenlafaxine (Pristiq - Wyeth), the main active metabolite of venlafaxine (Effexor, and others - Wyeth), for treatment of major depressive disorder. Venlafaxine, a norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), is available generically as an immediate-release tablet. Venlafaxine extended-release capsules (Effexor XR) are scheduled to go off-patent in 2010.