The FDA has approved sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (Lokelma – AstraZeneca), an oral potassium binder that exchanges hydrogen and sodium for potassium in the gastrointestinal (GI) lumen, for treatment of non-life-threatening hyperkalemia in adults. Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) is the third drug to be approved for this indication; sodium polystyrene sulfonate and patiromer (Veltassa) were approved earlier.

The FDA has approved osilodrostat (Isturisa – Recordati), a cortisol synthesis inhibitor, for oral treatment of adults with Cushing's disease when surgical resection of the pituitary adenoma is not an option or has not been curative. Osilodrostat is the first cortisol synthesis inhibitor to be approved in the US for this indication. Other oral steroidogenesis inhibitors such as ketoconazole and metyrapone have been used off-label for this indication for many years.

Atorvastatin (Lipitor - Parke-Davis), an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (or 'statin'), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia. A single stereoisomer of a pyrrole derivative, the new drug is chemically different from other statins.

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.

The FDA has approved three new once-daily fixed-dose antiretroviral drug combinations for treatment of HIV-1 infection. Symfi and Symfi Lo (Mylan) contain the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) efavirenz and the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and were approved as complete antiretroviral regimens. Symfi Lo contains a lower dose of efavirenz than both Symfi and Atripla, a fixed-dose combination of efavirenz, TDF, and the NRTI emtricitabine that was approved in 2006. Cimduo (Mylan), which...

The FDA recently approved the use of atorvastatin (Lipitor) to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients without heart disease who have type 2 diabetes plus other risk factors, with or without hypercholesterolemia. The agency also approved the drug's use to reduce the risk of stroke in high-risk nondiabetic patients without heart disease, whether or not they have hypercholesterolemia. Similar indications were previously approved for simvastatin (Zocor).

Quantiferon - TB Gold (Cellestis) is a T-cell interferon-gamma release assay approved by the FDA as an alternative to the tuberculin skin test for diagnosis of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). An earlier assay (Quantiferon-TB), which is no longer commercially available, was approved by the FDA in 2001. Other interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are available abroad.

The FDA has approved Phexxi (Evofem), a nonhormonal prescription-only vaginal gel containing lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate, for prevention of pregnancy. The gel is intended for on-demand contraception; it is not effective when used after intercourse. It was previously approved for use as a vaginal lubricant (Amphora), but was never marketed.

With increasing travel, immigration, use of immunosuppressive drugs and the spread of AIDS, physicians anywhere may see infections caused by parasites. The table in this document lists first-choice and alternative drugs for most parasitic infections.