Efalizumab (Raptiva - Genentech/XOMA), a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits T-cell activation, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of adults with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

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.

The FDA has approved aclidinium bromide (Tudorza Pressair – Forest), an orally-inhaled long-acting anticholinergic, for long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Cobicistat, a pharmacokinetic enhancer that boosts levels of some HIV drugs but has no antiretroviral activity of its own, is now available alone as Tybost (Gilead) and in fixed-dose combinations with the protease inhibitors atazanavir (Evotaz — BMS) and darunavir (Prezcobix — Janssen) for treatment of HIV-1 infection. Both atazanavir and darunavir have traditionally been used in combination with the CYP3A inhibitor ritonavir (Norvir) to boost their serum concentrations, but neither is available in a fixed-dose combination with ritonavir.

The FDA has approved vamorolone (Agamree – Catalyst), an oral corticosteroid, for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients ≥2 years old. Vamorolone is the second oral corticosteroid to be approved in the US for treatment of DMD; deflazacort (Emflaza) was approved in 2017.

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for HFrEF

Recent reports have suggested that some obese patients may benefit from long-term pharmacologic treatment (RL Atkinson and VS Hubbard, Am J Clin Nutr, 60:153, August 1994; DJ Goldstein and JH Potvin, Am J Clin Nutr, 60:647, November 1994). Fluoxetine (Prozac), widely used for treatment of depression and near approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of bulimia, is also being tried for treatment of obesity.

Use of epoetin alfa, a recombinant human erythropoietin, is being promoted directly to consumers in vague advertisements that promise renewed energy and improved work capacity. Epoetin is approved by the FDA for treatment of anemia due to chronic renal failure, cancer chemotherapy or HIV treatment, and before elective non-cardiac surgery. It is also used illicitly by competitive athletes to increase their endurance.

Bexxar, a combination of the monoclonal antibody tositumomab and radiolabeled Iodine-131 tositumomab (Corixa Corp/GlaxoSmithKline) has been approved by the FDA for a single treatment of relapsed follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in patients who are refractory to rituximab (Rituxan - Medical Letter 1998; 40:65). It is the second radioimmunoconjugate to be approved for refractory NHL; yttrium-90 linked to ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) was approved in 2002. Tositumomab, like ibritumomab, is a monoclonal antibody of mouse origin that binds to the CD20 antigen present on the surface of >90%...