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...

The drugs of choice for treatment of viral infections (other than HIV) and their dosages are listed in Tables 1-6 on the pages that follow. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA. Vaccines used for the prevention of viral infections are discussed elsewhere.

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for HFrEF

Saxagliptin (Onglyza - Bristol-Myers Squibb), the second oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor to be marketed in the US, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes.

Lefamulin (Xenleta – Nabriva), a semisynthetic pleuromutilin antibiotic, has been approved by the FDA for IV and oral treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) in adults. It is the first systemic pleuromutilin antibiotic to be approved in the US; retapamulin (Altabax), a 1% topical ointment for treatment of impetigo, was approved in 2007.

The main purpose of vasopressors is to raise arterial blood pressure, while that of inotropes is to increase cardiac contractility. The choice of drugs is dictated by the clinical setting. Controlled trials comparing the efficacy and safety of these drugs are generally lacking.

In 2012, the FDA required manufacturers of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) to add a warning to their labels about reports of increased blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Since then, several new studies have been published.

Two new extended-release amphetamine products have been approved by the FDA for once-daily treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in patients ≥6 years old: Adzenys XR-ODT (Neos Therapeutics), an orally distintegrating tablet, and Dyanavel XR (Tris Pharma), an oral suspension.

The FDA has approved Haegarda (CSL Bering), a human plasma-derived C1 esterase inhibitor (C1INH), for prophylaxis against hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in adolescents and adults. Haegarda is the fourth C1INH to be approved by the FDA and the second to be approved for HAE prophylaxis. Unlike the other C1INHs, Haegarda is self-administered subcutaneously rather than intravenously.

The FDA has approved hydrogen peroxide 40% topical solution (Eskata – Aclaris Therapeutics) for treatment of raised seborrheic keratoses (SKs) in adults. It is the first drug to be approved for this indication. (Hydrogen peroxide is available over the counter for topical use as a 3% solution.)