Alemtuzumab (Campath), a genetically engineered, humanized monoclonal antibody currently approved to treat B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL) and used off-label for induction therapy in solid organ transplants, is now also being tried off-label for treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).

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).

MoviPrep (Salix) is a new polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based bowel cleansing preparation approved for use in adults prior to colonoscopy. It contains ascorbic acid, which acts as an additional cathartic and flavoring agent, and requires a lower volume of fluid (3 L compared to the traditional 4 L) than most other PEG products. HalfLytely is an FDA-approved 2-L PEG product, but it must be taken with bisacodyl.

Colonoscopy remains the preferred method of colorectal cancer screening. Many patients consider cleansing the bowel in preparation for colonoscopy the most unpleasant part of the procedure, but inadequate bowel preparation significantly lowers the diagnostic yield.

The FDA has approved rezafungin (Rezzayo – Cidara/Melinta), an intravenous echinocandin antifungal, for once-weekly treatment of candidemia and invasive candidiasis (IC) in adults with limited or no alternative options. It is the first new drug to become available in the US in more than 15 years for treatment of systemic Candida infections.

Zoledronic acid (Reclast - Novartis) is the first bisphosphonate approved by the FDA for once-yearly intravenous (IV) treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Reclast is also approved for treatment of Paget's disease. Another IV formulation of zoledronic acid (Zometa) is approved for treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy, multiple myeloma and bone metastases from solid tumors.

Doripenem (Doribax - Ortho-McNeil Janssen), an intravenous (IV) carbapenem antibiotic with a spectrum of activity similar to that of imipenem and meropenem, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections. Use of doripenem for treatment of nosocomial pneumonia, including ventilator-associated pneumonia, is still under FDA review.

Three oral poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have been approved by the FDA for treatment of advanced, recurrent ovarian cancer. Olaparib (Lynparza – AstraZeneca), niraparib (Zejula – Tesaro), and rucaparib (Rubraca – Clovis) are each approved for somewhat different indications and for patients with different biomarkers (see Table 2).

The FDA has licensed two new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) for prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease in adults: Prevnar 20 (PCV20; Pfizer), which contains antigens from 20 serotypes of pneumococcus, and Vaxneuvance (PCV15; Merck), which contains antigens from 15 serotypes. Two other pneumococcal vaccines are available in the US: Prevnar 13 (PCV13; Pfizer), a 13-valent conjugate vaccine licensed for use in persons ≥6 weeks old, and Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23; Merck), a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine licensed for use in persons ≥2 years...

Pharmacologic treatment is recommended for postmenopausal women who have bone density T-scores (standard deviations from normal mean values in the spine, femoral neck, total hip, or distal radius) of -2.5 or below, T-scores between -1.0 and -2.5 with a history of fragility (low-trauma) fracture of the hip or spine, or T-scores between -1.0 and -2.5 with a FRAX 10-year probability of ≥3% for hip fracture or ≥20% for major osteoporotic fracture.