Matching articles for "rituximab"
Sarilumab (Kevzara) for Polymyalgia Rheumatica
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 13, 2024; (Issue 1702)
The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor
sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi/Regeneron) for treatment
of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in adults who
had an inadequate response to corticosteroids...
The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor
sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi/Regeneron) for treatment
of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in adults who
had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or
cannot tolerate a corticosteroid taper. Sarilumab is
the first biologic drug to be approved for treatment
of PMR; it was previously approved for treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis.
Rozanolixizumab (Rystiggo) for Myasthenia Gravis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 19, 2024; (Issue 1696)
Rozanolixizumab-noli (Rystiggo – UCB), a neonatal
Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker, has been approved by the
FDA for treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis in
adults with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR)...
Rozanolixizumab-noli (Rystiggo – UCB), a neonatal
Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker, has been approved by the
FDA for treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis in
adults with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodies.
It is the first drug to be approved for treatment of
generalized myasthenia gravis in patients with anti-MuSK antibodies. Four other biologic drugs – the
FcRn blocker efgartigimod alfa (Vyvgart; Vyvgart
Hytrulo) and the complement inhibitors eculizumab
(Soliris), ravulizumab (Ultomiris), and zilucoplan
(Zilbrysq) – are approved for use in patients with
anti-AChR antibodies (see Table 3).
Glofitamab (Columvi) for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 7, 2023; (Issue 1682)
Glofitamab-gxbm (Columvi – Genentech), a bispecific
CD20-directed CD3 T-cell engager, has received
accelerated approval from the FDA for IV treatment of
relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell...
Glofitamab-gxbm (Columvi – Genentech), a bispecific
CD20-directed CD3 T-cell engager, has received
accelerated approval from the FDA for IV treatment of
relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
(DLBCL), not otherwise specified, or large B-cell
lymphoma (LBCL) arising from follicular lymphoma
after ≥2 lines of systemic therapy. Accelerated
approval was based on response rates and durability
of response. Glofitamab is the second T-cell-engaging
bispecific antibody to be approved in the US
for treatment of DLBCL; epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly),
which is given subcutaneously, was approved earlier.
Unlike epcoritamab, glofitamab is not approved for
treatment of high-grade B-cell lymphoma.
In Brief: Lisocabtagene Maraleucel (Breyanzi) for Large B-Cell Lymphoma (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 26, 2023; (Issue 1679)
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...
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 systemic
therapy. Breyanzi is an individualized cellular
product prepared from the patient's own T cells,
which are genetically modified to express chimeric
antigen receptors (CAR) and then infused back into
the patient. The CAR T-cell products axicabtagene
ciloleucel (Yescarta) and tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah)
are also FDA-approved for treatment of large B-cell
lymphoma.
Epcoritamab (Epkinly) for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 12, 2023; (Issue 1678)
Epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly – Genmab), a bispecific
CD20-directed CD3 T-cell engager, has received
accelerated approval from the FDA for subcutaneous
treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large
B-cell...
Epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly – Genmab), a bispecific
CD20-directed CD3 T-cell engager, has received
accelerated approval from the FDA for subcutaneous
treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large
B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified,
including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma,
and high-grade B-cell lymphoma after ≥2 lines
of systemic therapy. Epcoritamab is the second
T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody to become
available in the US for treatment of non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma; mosunetuzumab-axgb (Lunsumio) was
recently approved for relapsed or refractory follicular
lymphoma, a common subtype of non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma.
Polatuzumab vedotin (Polivy) for Lymphoma (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 29, 2023; (Issue 1677)
Polatuzumab vedotin-piiq (Polivy – Genentech), a
CD79b-directed antibody and microtubule inhibitor
conjugate, has been approved by the FDA for use
in combination with rituximab,...
Polatuzumab vedotin-piiq (Polivy – Genentech), a
CD79b-directed antibody and microtubule inhibitor
conjugate, has been approved by the FDA for use
in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide,
doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP) for first-line
treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
(DLBCL), not otherwise specified (NOS), or high-grade
B-cell lymphoma (HGBL) in adults who have
an International Prognostic Index (IPI) score ≥2. The
drug was previously approved for use in combination
with bendamustine and rituximab for treatment of
patients with relapsed or refactory DLBCL, NOS, who
received at least 2 prior therapies.
Ublituximab (Briumvi) for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 6, 2023; (Issue 1671)
The FDA has approved the recombinant chimeric
anti-CD20 antibody ublituximab-xiiy (Briumvi – TG Therapeutics) for IV treatment of adults with
relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS),...
The FDA has approved the recombinant chimeric
anti-CD20 antibody ublituximab-xiiy (Briumvi – TG Therapeutics) for IV treatment of adults with
relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including
clinically isolated syndrome (initial neurological
episode), relapsing-remitting disease, and active
secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Two other anti-CD20 antibodies, IV ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) and SC
ofatumumab (Kesimpta), are also FDA-approved for
these indications.
A New Indication for Axicabtagene Ciloleucel (Yescarta) (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 14, 2022; (Issue 1663)
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...
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, which are genetically modified
to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) and then
infused back into the patient.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 15, 2021; (Issue 1637)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prevalent in 0.5% of
adults in the US; it is about 2.5 times more common
in women than in men. Guidelines for treatment
of RA from the American College of Rheumatology
were...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prevalent in 0.5% of
adults in the US; it is about 2.5 times more common
in women than in men. Guidelines for treatment
of RA from the American College of Rheumatology
were recently updated. The goal of treatment is to
minimize disease activity and prevent irreversible
joint damage.
Expanded Table: Some Biologic Drugs and JAK Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 15, 2021; (Issue 1637)
...
View Expanded Table: Some Biologic Drugs and JAK Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Flowchart: Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 15, 2021; (Issue 1637)
...
View the Flowchart: Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Belimumab (Benlysta) for Lupus Nephritis (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 23, 2021; (Issue 1634)
The B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS)-specific inhibitor
belimumab (Benlysta – GSK), which was approved
earlier for treatment of active, autoantibody-positive,
nonrenal, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),...
The B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS)-specific inhibitor
belimumab (Benlysta – GSK), which was approved
earlier for treatment of active, autoantibody-positive,
nonrenal, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), has
now been approved for use in addition to standard
therapy for treatment of active lupus nephritis in
adults. Belimumab is the first drug to be approved in
the US for treatment of both SLE and lupus nephritis.
Anifrolumab (Saphnelo) for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 20, 2021; (Issue 1633)
The FDA has approved anifrolumab-fnia (Saphnelo – AstraZeneca), a type I interferon receptor antagonist, for IV treatment of adults with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are receiving...
The FDA has approved anifrolumab-fnia (Saphnelo – AstraZeneca), a type I interferon receptor antagonist, for IV treatment of adults with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are receiving standard treatment. Anifrolumab has not been studied in patients with severe active lupus nephritis or severe active CNS lupus. It is the first type I interferon receptor antagonist to become available
in the US.
Voclosporin (Lupkynis) for Lupus Nephritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 23, 2021; (Issue 1631)
Voclosporin (Lupkynis – Aurinia), an oral calcineurin
inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for use
in combination with the antimetabolite immunosuppressant
mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept,...
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.
Teprotumumab (Tepezza) for Thyroid Eye Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 31, 2021; (Issue 1625)
Teprotumumab-trbw (Tepezza - Horizon), an insulin-like
growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor, has
been approved by the FDA for IV treatment of thyroid
eye disease. It is the first drug to be approved...
Teprotumumab-trbw (Tepezza - Horizon), an insulin-like
growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor, has
been approved by the FDA for IV treatment of thyroid
eye disease. It is the first drug to be approved in the US
for this indication.
Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 22, 2021; (Issue 1620)
Most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) present
with the relapsing-remitting form of the disease.
Pharmacologic treatment usually includes a
disease-modifying drug, corticosteroids for...
Most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) present
with the relapsing-remitting form of the disease.
Pharmacologic treatment usually includes a
disease-modifying drug, corticosteroids for acute
exacerbations, and other drugs for managing
symptoms such as fatigue, depression, and pain.
Early use of disease-modifying therapy has improved
clinical outcomes.
Caplacizumab (Cablivi) for iTTP
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 19, 2020; (Issue 1609)
Caplacizumab-yhdp (Cablivi – Sanofi /Genzyme), a
von Willebrand factor-directed antibody fragment, has
been approved by the FDA for use in combination with
plasma exchange and immunosuppressive...
Caplacizumab-yhdp (Cablivi – Sanofi /Genzyme), a
von Willebrand factor-directed antibody fragment, has
been approved by the FDA for use in combination with
plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapy
for treatment of immune-mediated thrombotic
thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP; formerly called
acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
[aTTP]) in adults. It is the first drug to be approved in
the US for this indication.
Fostamatinib (Tavalisse) for ITP
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • February 25, 2019; (Issue 1566)
The FDA has approved fostamatinib disodium
hexahydrate (Tavalisse – Rigel), the first spleen
tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor, for oral treatment of
thrombocytopenia in adults with chronic...
The FDA has approved fostamatinib disodium
hexahydrate (Tavalisse – Rigel), the first spleen
tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor, for oral treatment of
thrombocytopenia in adults with chronic immune
thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient
response to a previous treatment.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 30, 2018; (Issue 1552)
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are used for initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) to achieve clinical remission and prevent
irreversible joint damage (see Table 1). DMARDs
generally...
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are used for initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
(RA) to achieve clinical remission and prevent
irreversible joint damage (see Table 1). DMARDs
generally do not have an immediate analgesic effect,
but over time they can control symptoms and have
been shown to delay and possibly stop progression
of the disease. Methotrexate (Trexall, and others)
is generally the drug of choice; it can be used for
patients with low, moderate, or high disease activity.
For mild disease, some clinicians prefer to start with
hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, and generics) and/or
sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, and others).
Expanded Table: Biologic Agents for Rheumatoid Arthritis (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 30, 2018; (Issue 1552)
...
View Expanded Table: Biologic Agents for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Axicabtagene Ciloleucel (Yescarta) for B-Cell Lymphoma (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 16, 2018; (Issue 1551)
The FDA has approved axicabtagene ciloleucel
(Yescarta – Kite) for treatment of adults with relapsed
or refractory CD19+ large B-cell lymphoma after ≥2
lines of systemic therapy. Yescarta is an...
The FDA has approved axicabtagene ciloleucel
(Yescarta – Kite) for treatment of adults with relapsed
or refractory CD19+ large B-cell lymphoma after ≥2
lines of systemic therapy. Yescarta is an individualized
cellular product prepared from the patient's own T cells,
which are genetically modified to express chimeric
antigen receptors (CAR) and then infused back into
the patient. It is the second CAR T-cell immunotherapy
to become available in the US. Tisagenlecleucel
(Kymriah), a CAR T-cell product previously approved
for treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in patients ≤25
years old, was recently also approved for relapsed or
refractory CD19+ large B-cell lymphoma after ≥2 lines
of systemic therapy.
Copanlisib (Aliqopa) for Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 23, 2018; (Issue 1545)
The FDA has granted accelerated approval to copanlisib
(Aliqopa – Bayer), an intravenously administered
phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, for
treatment of adults with relapsed follicular...
The FDA has granted accelerated approval to copanlisib
(Aliqopa – Bayer), an intravenously administered
phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, for
treatment of adults with relapsed follicular lymphoma
who have received at least two prior systemic
therapies. Follicular lymphoma is a common subtype
of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Copanlisib is the second
PI3K inhibitor to be approved for this indication;
idelalisib (Zydelig), which is administered orally twice
daily, was the first.
Sarilumab (Kevzara) for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • August 14, 2017; (Issue 1527)
The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor
sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi) for second-line
treatment of adults with moderately to severely
active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is the second...
The FDA has approved the interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor
sarilumab (Kevzara – Sanofi) for second-line
treatment of adults with moderately to severely
active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is the second IL-6
inhibitor to be approved for this indication; tocilizumab
(Actemra) was approved earlier.
Idelalisib (Zydelig) for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 11, 2015; (Issue 1468)
The FDA has approved idelalisib (Zydelig – Gilead),
an oral kinase inhibitor, for use in combination with
rituximab (Rituxan) for treatment of relapsed chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is also...
The FDA has approved idelalisib (Zydelig – Gilead),
an oral kinase inhibitor, for use in combination with
rituximab (Rituxan) for treatment of relapsed chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is also approved as
monotherapy for treatment of relapsed follicular
lymphoma and relapsed small lymphocytic lymphoma
(both are subtypes of indolent non-Hodgkins
lymphoma) in patients who have received at least two
prior systemic therapies.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 22, 2014; (Issue 1458)
For initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, most expert clinicians prescribe a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) and add a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or a corticosteroid to...
For initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, most expert clinicians prescribe a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) and add a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or a corticosteroid to control symptoms. Methotrexate is generally the DMARD of choice...
DMARDs
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to achieve clinical remission, prevent irreversible damage to joints, and minimize toxicity associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. DMARDs generally do not have an immediate analgesic effect, but over time can control symptoms and have been shown to delay and possibly stop progression of the disease. Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, and others) is generally the first DMARD prescribed; it can be used to treat mild, moderate, or severe RA. For mild disease, some clinicians prefer to start with hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, and generics) and/or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, and others).
DMARDs
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to achieve clinical remission, prevent irreversible damage to joints, and minimize toxicity associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. DMARDs generally do not have an immediate analgesic effect, but over time can control symptoms and have been shown to delay and possibly stop progression of the disease. Methotrexate (Rheumatrex, and others) is generally the first DMARD prescribed; it can be used to treat mild, moderate, or severe RA. For mild disease, some clinicians prefer to start with hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, and generics) and/or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, and others).
Obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 10, 2014; (Issue 1455)
Obinutuzumab (Gazyva – Genentech), a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal
antibody, has been approved by the FDA for use in
combination with chlorambucil (Leukeran) in patients
with previously untreated chronic...
Obinutuzumab (Gazyva – Genentech), a humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal
antibody, has been approved by the FDA for use in
combination with chlorambucil (Leukeran) in patients
with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic
leukemia (CLL). Two other anti-CD20 antibodies,
rituximab (Rituxan) and ofatumumab (Arzerra), were
previously approved for treatment of CLL.
Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 14, 2014; (Issue 1440)
The FDA has approved ibrutinib (eye broo' ti nib;
Imbruvica – Janssen/Pharmacyclics), an oral kinase
inhibitor, for second-line treatment of chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is the first kinase...
The FDA has approved ibrutinib (eye broo' ti nib;
Imbruvica – Janssen/Pharmacyclics), an oral kinase
inhibitor, for second-line treatment of chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is the first kinase inhibitor
to be approved for CLL. Ibrutinib was approved earlier
for second-line treatment of mantle cell lymphoma, a
rare form of B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Tofacitinib (Xeljanz) for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 7, 2013; (Issue 1407)
The FDA has approved tofacitinib (toe” fa sye’ ti nib;
Xeljanz – Pfizer), an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for
treatment of adults with moderately to severely active
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who...
The FDA has approved tofacitinib (toe” fa sye’ ti nib;
Xeljanz – Pfizer), an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, for
treatment of adults with moderately to severely active
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate
response to or are intolerant of methotrexate. Ruxolitinib
(Jakafi) is the only other JAK inhibitor available in the
US; it is FDA-approved for treatment of myelofibrosis.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2012; (Issue 117)
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) to achieve clinical remission, prevent
irreversible damage to joints, and minimize...
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) to achieve clinical remission, prevent
irreversible damage to joints, and minimize toxicity
associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. DMARDs (Table 1)
generally do not have an immediate analgesic effect,
but over time can control symptoms and have been
shown to delay and possibly stop progression of the
disease. NSAIDs have immediate analgesic and antiinflammatory
effects, but may not affect the disease
process. Oral corticosteroids can relieve joint symptoms
and control systemic manifestations, but their
chronic use can cause many complications. Judicious
use of intra-articular corticosteroids can rapidly
decrease inflammation in acute joints with few, if any,
adverse effects.
Dalfampridine (Ampyra) for MS
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 20, 2010; (Issue 1347)
The FDA has approved the use of dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine; Ampyra – Acorda), a potassium
channel blocker, to improve walking speed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Walking speed is...
The FDA has approved the use of dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine; Ampyra – Acorda), a potassium
channel blocker, to improve walking speed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Walking speed is considered
a reliable clinical measure of impairment in patients with MS.
Ofatumumab (Arzerra) for CLL
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 28, 2010; (Issue 1341)
The FDA has approved ofatumumab (Arzerra – GlaxoSmithKline), a human anti-CD20 monoclonal
antibody, for treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) refractory to fludarabine (Fludara, and...
The FDA has approved ofatumumab (Arzerra – GlaxoSmithKline), a human anti-CD20 monoclonal
antibody, for treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) refractory to fludarabine (Fludara, and others) and alemtuzumab (Campath). It is the second anti-CD20 antibody approved for treatment of CLL; rituximab (Rituxan), a chimeric murine/human antibody, was the first.
Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2009; (Issue 81)
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to prevent irreversible damage to joints and minimize toxicities associated with nonsteroidal...
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are now used early in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to prevent irreversible damage to joints and minimize toxicities associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids.
Correction: Bendamustine (Treanda) for CLL and NHL
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 1, 2008; (Issue 1300)
(Med Lett Drugs Ther 2008; 50:91) In the Clinical Studies section, the complete response rate with chlorambucil for CLL was 2% (not...
(Med Lett Drugs Ther 2008; 50:91) In the Clinical Studies section, the complete response rate with chlorambucil for CLL was 2% (not 24%).
Bendamustine (Treanda) for CLL and NHL
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 17, 2008; (Issue 1299)
Bendamustine HCl (Treanda - Cephalon), an unusual DNA-alkylating agent that has been used in Europe for many years to treat lymphoma, has now been approved by the FDA for treatment of chronic lymphocytic...
Bendamustine HCl (Treanda - Cephalon), an unusual DNA-alkylating agent that has been used in Europe for many years to treat lymphoma, has now been approved by the FDA for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
Rituximab (Rituxan) for Rheumatoid Arthritis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 24, 2006; (Issue 1233)
Rituximab (Rituxan - Genentech), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody already marketed for treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is now FDA-approved for use concurrently with methotrexate to treat moderate to...
Rituximab (Rituxan - Genentech), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody already marketed for treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is now FDA-approved for use concurrently with methotrexate to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Rituximab selectively depletes CD20+ B cells, which apparently play a role in the autoimmune response and in the chronic synovitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Iodine-131 Tositumomab (Bexxar) for Treatment of Lymphoma
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 27, 2003; (Issue 1168)
Bexxar, a combination of the monoclonal antibody tositumomab and radiolabeled Iodine-131 tositumomab (Corixa Corp/GlaxoSmithKline) has been approved by the FDA for a single treatment of relapsed follicular...
Bexxar, a combination of the monoclonal antibody tositumomab and radiolabeled Iodine-131 tositumomab (Corixa Corp/GlaxoSmithKline) has been approved by the FDA for a single treatment of relapsed follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in patients who are refractory to rituximab (Rituxan - Medical Letter 1998; 40:65). It is the second radioimmunoconjugate to be approved for refractory NHL; yttrium-90 linked to ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) was approved in 2002. Tositumomab, like ibritumomab, is a monoclonal antibody of mouse origin that binds to the CD20 antigen present on the surface of >90% of malignant B cells.
Drugs of Choice for Cancer
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 1, 2003; (Issue 7)
The tables in this article list drugs used for treatment of cancer in the USA and Canada and their major adverse effects. The choice of drugs in Table I is based on the opinions of Medical Letter consultants....
The tables in this article list drugs used for treatment of cancer in the USA and Canada and their major adverse effects. The choice of drugs in Table I is based on the opinions of Medical Letter consultants. Some drugs are listed for indications for which they have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In some cases, such as elderly patients or those with many co-morbid illnesses, the regimen of choice might not be suitable. For many of the cancers listed, surgery and/or radiation therapy may be the treatment of choice or may also be part of the management. Anticancer drugs and their adverse effects are listed in Table II on page 46. A partial list of brand names appears on page 52.
Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 25, 2002; (Issue 1144)
Yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin -IDEC) was approved by the FDA for treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory low-grade follicular or transformed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), including...
Yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin -IDEC) was approved by the FDA for treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory low-grade follicular or transformed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), including patients with follicular lymphoma refractory to rituximab (Rituxan -Medical Letter 1998; 40:65). Zevalin is the first radioimmunoconjugate to be approved for treatment of cancer.
Drugs of Choice For Cancer Chemotherapy (combined issue 1087-1088)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 18, 2000; (Issue 1087)
The tables in this article list drugs used for treatment of cancer in the USA and Canada. The choices of drugs in Table 1 is based on the opinions of Medical Letter consultants. Some drugs are listed for...
The tables in this article list drugs used for treatment of cancer in the USA and Canada. The choices of drugs in Table 1 is based on the opinions of Medical Letter consultants. Some drugs are listed for indications for which they have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. For many of the cancers listed, surgery and/or radiation therapy are also part of the management of the disease.