The FDA has approved two new ophthalmic drugs for reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: latanoprostene bunod (Vyzulta – Bausch and Lomb), a modified prostaglandin analog, and netarsudil (VRhopressa – Aerie), the first Rho kinase inhibitor to be approved in the US.

Four different desk-top systems are now widely used in physicians'; offices to measure blood chemistries. The Ektachem DT (Kodak) and Reflotron (Boehringer Mannheim), reviewed previously in The Medical Letter (volume 30, page 119, 1988; volume 31, page 90, 1989), resemble the Seralyzer (Miles Diagnostics) in cost; the Vision (Abbott), which is fully automated, is much more expensive.

Famciclovir (Famvir - SmithKline Beecham) is now available in the USA for oral treatment of acute uncomplicated herpes zoster (shingles). The manufacturer claims that use of the drug reduces the duration of postherpetic neuralgia. Famciclovir is similar to acyclovir (Zovirax - Burroughs Wellcome), which has been the drug of choice for treatment of varicella-zoster and herpes simplex virus infections (Medical Letter, 36:27, 1994).

Bexarotene, a retinoid analog, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for oral treatment of dermatologic manifestations of refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

The InstaRead Lithium System (ReliaLAB), an office test that only requires a finger stick to measure lithium serum concentrations, has been cleared by the FDA and is now available. Standard methods for measuring lithium serum concentrations require venipuncture and transport of the specimen to commercial laboratories.

Linagliptin (Tradjenta – Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly), a third oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) enzyme inhibitor, was recently approved by the FDA for treatment of type 2 diabetes, either alone or in combination with metformin, a sulfonylurea or pioglitazone

The FDA has approved avelumab (Bavencio – EMD Serono) and durvalumab (Imfinzi – AstraZeneca), two new immune check point inhibitors, and pembrolizumab (Keytruda – Merck), a checkpoint inhibitor that has been available in the US since 2014, for treatment of locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. Nivolumab (Opdivo) and atezolizumab (Tecentriq) were approved earlier for this indication.

Alefacept (a le' fa sept; Amevive - Biogen) has been approved by the FDA for parenteral treatment of adults with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

The FDA has approved azithromycin 1% ophthalmic solution (AzaSite - Inspire) for treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis in patients > 1 year old. It is formulated, according to the manufacturer, in a controlled-release delivery system that keeps the drug in the eye for several hours.

The FDA has approved ticagrelor (Brilinta – AstraZeneca), an oral antiplatelet drug, for use with low-dose aspirin to reduce the rate of thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It will compete with clopidogrel (Plavix) and prasugrel (Effient) for such use. Clopidogrel is expected to become available generically in the US within the next few months.