The FDA has approved ranibizumab (Lucentis - Genentech) as an intravitreal injection for treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Ranibizumab is a derivative of bevacizumab (Avastin), which is FDA-approved for intravenous treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and nonsmall cell lung cancer, but has also been used off label for intravitreal treatment of neovascular AMD.

Sitagliptin (Januvia) and metformin (Glucophage, and others) are now available in a single tablet (Janumet - Merck) for treatment of type 2 diabetes. The combination is approved by the FDA for use in patients not adequately controlled by sitagliptin or meformin alone or in those already taking both drugs. Metformin is also available in combination with the thiazolidinediones pioglitazone and rosiglitazone and with the sulfonylureas glipizide and glyburide.

The thiazolidinediones rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) are peripheral insulin sensitizing agents used to treat hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes; one or the other is often used as a second or third agent with metformin (Glucophage, and others) and/or a sulfonylurea such as glimepiride (Amaryl, and others). A recent report suggested that rosiglitazone may increase the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiovascular mortality.

Lybrel (Wyeth) is the first FDA-approved low-dose combination oral contraceptive taken 365 days a year without a placebo or pill-free interval. All tablets contain low doses of levonorgestrel (0.09 mg) and ethinyl estradiol (20 mcg). Most oral contraceptives are packaged as a 21/7 cycle (21 days of active tablets and 7 days of placebo), resulting in 13 withdrawal bleeding episodes each year. Two formulations are taken for 24 days followed by 4 days of inert tablets (Yaz and Loestrin 24). Two others (Seasonique and Seasonale) have a 91-day cycle with only 4 withdrawal bleeds per...

Lapatinib (Tykerb - GlaxoSmithKline), an oral inhibitor of both HER-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor type 1 (EGFR-1 or ErbB-1), has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with capecitabine (Xeloda) to treat advanced or metastatic breast cancer that overexpresses HER-2 in patients who have received prior therapy that included an anthracycline, a taxane and trastuzumab (Herceptin), an intravenous monoclonal antibody that also inhibits HER-2.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is increasingly used to treat advanced Parkinson's disease (PD), but few controlled clinical trials have been published. New evidence from a large controlled study has recently become available.

The FDA has approved Arnuity Ellipta (GSK), a single-agent inhaler containing the corticosteroid fluticasone furoate, for once-daily maintenance treatment of asthma in patients ≥12 years old. Fluticasone furoate is also available in combination with the long-acting beta₂-agonist vilanterol as Breo Ellipta for treatment of asthma and COPD.

The FDA has approved a subcutaneous (SC) extended-release formulation of the mu-opioid receptor partial agonist and kappa-opioid receptor antagonist buprenorphine (Sublocade – Indivior) for once-monthly treatment of moderate to severe opioid use disorder. Sublocade is the first injectable buprenorphine product to be approved in the US. Buprenorphine is also available in sublingual formulations with or without the opioid antagonist naloxone, in a buccal formulation with naloxone, and as a subdermal implant (Probuphine).

The FDA has approved fenfluramine oral solution (Fintepla – Zogenix) for treatment of seizures in patients ≥2 years old with Dravet syndrome. It is the third drug to be approved for this indication. Stiripentol (Diacomit) and cannabidiol (Epidiolex), a purified product derived from marijuana, were approved earlier.

Drugs for gout are used to reduce the pain and inflammation of acute flares, decrease the frequency of exacerbations, and lower serum urate levels to prevent recurrent flares, development of tophi, and joint damage.