Fruquintinib (Fruzaqla – Takeda), an oral kinase inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of adults with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who received prior fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy, anti-VEGF therapy, and, in patients with RAS wild-type mutations, anti-EGFR therapy. The drug can be used in patients with mCRC regardless of biomarker status. Fruquintinib is the first drug to become available in the US for treatment of mCRC that targets 3 VEGF receptor kinases.

The recommendations for treatment of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections are listed in tables 1 and 2. Vaccination against VZV was reviewed in a previous issue.

The FDA has approved Lonsurf (Taiho Oncology), a combination of the thymidine-based nucleoside analog trifluridine and the thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor tipiracil, for oral treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Trifluridine is incorporated into DNA, interfering with DNA synthesis and inhibiting cell proliferation. Tipiracil inhibits the metabolism of trifluridine. The combination is only approved for use in patients who were previously treated with a fluoropyrimidine (fluorouracil or capecitabine), oxaliplatin, irinotecan, an anti-VEGF biological such as bevacizumab, and, if the tumor is RAS wild-type, an anti-EGFR agent (cetuximab or panitumumab). The median survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with these drugs is about 30 months.

FDA approval of trifluridine/tipiracil was based on the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 800 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had previously been treated with chemotherapy and biological therapy. Median overall survival, the primary endpoint, was significantly longer with trifluridine/tipiracil compared to placebo (7.1 months vs 5.3 months). Median progression-free survival, a secondary endpoint, was 1.7 months with placebo and 2.0 months with trifluridine/tipiracil. The most common adverse effects of the combination included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, neutropenia, anemia, and leukopenia. Among 533 patients treated with the combination, only one treatment-related death occurred (from septic shock).1

Lonsurf is available in tablets containing 15 mg of trifluridine and 6.14 mg of tipiracil or 20 mg of trifluridine and 8.19 mg of tipiracil. The recommended dosage is 35 mg/m² (based on the trifluridine component) orally twice daily on days 1-5 and 8-12 of each 28-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. Lonsurf should be taken within one hour after meals. The cost of one treatment cycle (sixty 20 mg/8.19 mg tablets) is $10,947.70.2

1. RJ Mayer et al. Randomized trial of TAS-102 for refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:1909.
2. Approximate WAC for a patient with a 1.7 m² surface area. WAC = wholesaler acquisition cost or manufacturer's published price to wholesalers; WAC represents a published catalogue or list price and may not represent an actual transactional price. Source: AnalySource® Monthly. May 5, 2016. Reprinted with permission by First Databank, Inc. All rights reserved. ©2016. www.fdbhealth. com/policies/drug-pricing-policy.

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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.

The drugs of choice for treatment of non-HIV viral infections 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 in another issue of Treatment Guidelines.

The drugs of choice for treatment of non-HIV viral infections with their dosages and cost are listed in Tables 1-6. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA. Vaccines used in the prevention of viral infections are discussed in the "Adult Immunization" issue of Treatment Guidelines.

The drugs of choice for non-HIV viral infections with their dosages and cost are listed in the tables that begin on page 24. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA.

The drugs of choice for non-HIV viral infections with their dosages and cost are listed in the table that begins on the next page. Since the last Medical Letter issue on this subject, some new drugs and some new recommendations for old drugs have been added.

The drugs of choice for non-HIV viral infections with their dosages and cost are listed in the [article's] table.

The drugs of choice for non-HIV viral infections with their dosages and cost are listed in the table on the next page. The treatment of HIV infection will be discussed in a future issue.

Since the last review of this topic (Medical Letter, 32:73, August 10, 1990) some new antiviral agents have been approved and the indications for several others expanded. The drugs of choice for viral infections are listed in the table on page 36.