Ofloxacin (Floxin - McNeil, Ortho), a new fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent, was recently marketed in the USA for oral treatment of various infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. Ofloxacin is the third fluoroquinolone to become available in this country. Norfloxacin (Noroxin - Medical Letter, 29:25, 1987) is marketed only for treatment of urinary tract infections. Ciprofloxacin (Cipro - Medical Letter, 30:11, 1988), like ofloxacin, is approved for use in a variety of infections.

Azelastine hydrochloride, a histamine-H1 receptor antagonist, has been marketed as a 0.1% nasal spray (Astelin - Wallace) for treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Corticosteroid and cromolyn sodium nasal sprays are also available for this indication (Medical Letter, 37:5, 1995). Cromolyn sodium (Nasalcrom) has now been approved for over-the-counter use.

The FDA has approved a conjugate heptavalent pneumococcal vaccine for prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease in infants and children.

Ophthalmic formulations of ketotifen fumarate (Zaditor), pemirolast potassium (Alamast) and nedocromil sodium (Alocril) have recently been approved by the FDA for use in adults and children with itching of the eyes due to allergic conjunctivitis.

Linezolid, the first of a new class of antibiotics, the oxazolidinones, has been marketed for treatment of infection due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, nosocomial and community-acquired pueumonia due to Staphylococcus aureus or penicillin-sucsceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae, and skin and skin structure infections, including those due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).

Standard treatment for patients with heart failure has included a diuretic, digitalis and an ACE inhibitor. In recent years carvedilol, a nonselective beta-blocker with alpha-1 blocking activity, and the beta-selective blockers bisoprolol and metroprolol have also been used for this indication.

Zonisamide (Zonegran - Elan Pharma), a sulfonamide chemically unrelated to other antiepileptic drugs, has been approved by the FDA for adjunctive use in adults with partial seizures. Zonisamide has been available in Japan for more than 10 years.

Tenecteplase, a recombinant variant of human tissue plasminogen activator, is now available for thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The number of cough remedies available in the USA continues to multiply, but most products contain the same or similar ingredients in varying combinations. Most acute coughs do not require treatment with drugs, especially in children, and suppression of a productive cough may be harmful.

Nateglinide (Starlix), a new meglitinide oral glucose-lowering agent, has been approved by the FDA.