Voclosporin (Lupkynis – Aurinia), an oral calcineurin inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with the antimetabolite immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept, and generics) and a corticosteroid for treatment of adults with active lupus nephritis. It is the first calcineurin inhibitor to be approved in the US for this indication. Tacrolimus (Prograf, and others) and cyclosporine (Neoral, and others), the other available systemic calcineurin inhibitors, are approved for prophylaxis of organ rejection in transplant patients.

The FDA has approved a dextroamphetamine transdermal patch (Xelstrym – Noven) for once-daily treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in patients ≥6 years old. Xelstrym is the first transdermal amphetamine product to be approved in the US. A methylphenidate transdermal patch (Daytrana, and generics) has been available for years for treatment of ADHD.

The FDA has licensed Capvaxive (PCV21; Merck), a 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, for prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and pneumococcal pneumonia in adults. Four other pneumococcal vaccines are currently available in the US: Prevnar 20 (PCV20), Vaxneuvance (PCV15), and Prevnar 13 (PCV13) are conjugate vaccines licensed for use in persons ≥6 weeks old, and Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23) is a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine licensed for use in persons ≥2 years old (see Table 1).

The FDA has approved a fixed-dose combination of omeprazole, amoxicillin, and rifabutin (Talicia – RedHill) for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in adults. Talicia is the first rifabutin-based product to be approved for this indication.

The FDA has approved cenobamate (Xcopri – SK Life Science) for oral treatment of partial-onset (focal) seizures in adults.

Oliceridine (Olinvyk - Trevena), an IV opioid agonist, has been approved by the FDA for management of acute pain severe enough to require an opioid and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

View the Comparison Table: Some FDA-Approved Drugs for Weight Management

Disruption of tear-film homeostasis (altered composition, reduced production, rapid evaporation) and resulting ocular surface inflammation cause the discomfort and blurred vision of dry eye disease. Many cases are caused by tear evaporation due to meibomian gland dysfunction. Other precipitating factors can include lacrimal gland dysfunction, poor eyelid function, environmental factors, extended screen time, inflammatory conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome, and use of some ocular or systemic drugs such as antihistamines, retinoids, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors...

A new CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for pain recently became available. Nonopioid drugs for pain were reviewed in a previous issue.

Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobias) are the most common form of psychiatric illness. They can be treated effectively with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or pharmacotherapy.