Micronized fenofibrate (Tricor - Abbott), a fibric acid derivative structurally similar to clofibrate (Atromid-S, and others) and gemfibrozil (Lopid, and others), has been approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. Increased serum triglyceride concentrations have been associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (J Jeppesen et al, Circulation, 97:1029, 1998).

The FDA has added a "black box" warning about the risks of QT prolongation and the potentially fatal torsades de pointes (TdP) ventricular tachycardia to the labeling of droperidol (Inapsine - Akorn), an antiemetic used mostly in anesthesia. The Canadian Health Protection Branch has issued a similar warning. Some anesthesiologists have written to The Medical Letter to express their displeasure with these warnings.

A reader expressed disappointment that our recent listing of “Some Warfarin Drug Interactions”1 did not include acetaminophen. Perhaps it should have. Acetaminophen can increase the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, particularly with continued use, but it does so inconsistently. The mechanism of this interaction has not been established, but may be related to an acetaminophen metabolite inhibiting vitamin K-epoxide reductase, the target for warfarin’s anticoagulant effect.2Patient susceptibility varies, possibly on a genetic basis; occasional use of acetaminophen generally has little or...

Eteplirsen (Exondys 51 – Sarepta), an antisense oligonucleotide, has received accelerated approval from the FDA for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients who have a mutation of the dystrophin gene that is amenable to exon 51 skipping. It is the first drug to be approved for treatment of DMD.

The results of the recently published FOURIER trial have shown a reduction in cardiovascular events with addition of the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab (Repatha) to statin therapy in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

The FDA recently approved axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta – Kite), a CD19-directed genetically modified cellular product, for treatment of large B-cell lymphoma that is refractory to first-line chemoimmunotherapy or that relapses within 12 months of first-line treatment. It was previously approved for treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma after ≥2 lines of systemic therapy and for treatment of relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma after ≥2 lines of systemic therapy. Yescarta is an individualized cellular product prepared from the patient's own T cells,...

The FDA has approved Dextenza (Ocular Therapeutix), a dexamethasone ophthalmic insert, for treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. Dextenza was approved earlier for treatment of ocular inflammation and pain following ophthalmic surgery.

The FDA has approved lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi – BMS) for treatment of adults with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, or follicular lymphoma grade 3B who have disease refractory to first-line chemoimmunotherapy, relapsed within 12 months of or after first-line chemoimmunotherapy, are not eligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation due to comorbidities or age, or have relapsed or refractory disease after ≥2 lines of...

The FDA has approved cefiderocol (Fetroja – Shionogi), a new IV cephalosporin antibiotic, for treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by susceptible gram-negative bacteria in adults who have limited or no alternative treatment options.

Botulinum toxin type A has been marketed in the USA since 1989 for treatment of strabismus and blepharospasm and has also been used to treat cervical dystonia and some other muscular disorders.