1
Influenza Vaccine for 2024-2025
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 16, 2024; (Issue 1711)
Annual vaccination in the US against influenza A and
B viruses is recommended for everyone ≥6 months
old without a contraindication. Influenza vaccines
available in the US for the 2024-2025 season are
listed in Table 2.
2
In Brief: Alternatives to Adderall
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 28, 2022; (Issue 1664)
The short-acting formulation of mixed amphetamine
salts (Adderall, and generics) FDA-approved for
treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) and narcolepsy, is currently in short supply in
the US. Until an adequate supply is restored, patients
may be looking for alternatives.
3
COVID-19 Update: New Pfizer and Moderna Vaccine Formulations for 2024-2025
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 16, 2024; (Issue 1711)
New 2024-2025 formulations of the mRNA COVID-19
vaccines manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty)
and Moderna (Spikevax) that more closely target
currently circulating variants have been licensed by
the FDA for persons ≥12 years old and made available
under FDA Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for
use in persons 6 months to 11 years old.1-3 A 2024-2025
formulation of the adjuvanted protein subunit COVID-19
vaccine manufactured by Novavax is expected to
become available soon for persons ≥12 years old.
4
In Brief: New Warning for Fezolinetant (Veozah)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 14, 2024; (Issue 1713)
The FDA has required a new warning in the label of the
oral selective neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist
fezolinetant (Veozah) about the risk of hepatoxicity.
The label of fezolinetant, which was approved by
the FDA in 2023 for treatment of moderate to severe
vasomotor symptoms due to menopause, already
contained a warning about hepatic transaminase
elevations associated with use of the drug.
5
COVID-19 Update: Novavax Vaccine for 2024-2025
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 23, 2024; (Issue 5086)
A 2024-2025 formulation of the Novavax adjuvanted
protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine that more
closely targets currently circulating SARS-CoV-2
variants is available now under an FDA Emergency
Use Authorization (EUA) for use in persons ≥12
years old. The 2024-2025 formulations of the
mRNA COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) and Moderna (Spikevax) were licensed by the FDA last month for use in persons ≥12
years old and made available under EUAs for use in
persons 6 months to 11 years old.
6
In Brief: OTC Ivermectin for Head Lice
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 26, 2023; (Issue 1679)
Topical ivermectin lotion 0.5% (Sklice, and generics),
which has been available by prescription since 2012,
is now FDA-approved for sale over the counter (OTC)
for treatment of head lice in patients ≥6 months old.
Ivermectin is also available by prescription as a 1%
cream (Soolantra) approved for topical treatment of
inflammatory lesions of rosacea and in oral tablets
(Stromectol, and generics) for treatment of various
parasitic infections.
7
Drugs for Plaque Psoriasis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 30, 2024; (Issue 1712)
Mild to moderate plaque psoriasis can be treated
with topical drugs and phototherapy. Patients
with moderate to severe disease generally require
systemic therapy. Guidelines for the treatment of
psoriasis with topical therapy, phototherapy, and
systemic drugs have recently been published.
8
An Epinephrine Nasal Spray (neffy) for Anaphylaxis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 14, 2024; (Issue 1713)
The FDA has approved an epinephrine nasal spray
(neffy – ARS Pharma) for emergency treatment
of type 1 hypersensitivity reactions including
anaphylaxis in patients who weigh ≥30 kg. It is
the first noninjectable epinephrine product to be
approved for this indication.
9
Roflumilast Cream (Zoryve) for Atopic Dermatitis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 16, 2024; (Issue 1711)
The FDA has approved a 0.15% cream formulation
of the phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor
roflumilast (Zoryve – Arcutis) for topical treatment of
mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in patients
≥6 years old. Roflumilast is the second PDE4 inhibitor
to be approved in the US for treatment of AD;
crisaborole (Eucrisa), which can be used in patients
≥3 months old, was the first. Roflumilast is available
as Zoryve in a 0.3% cream for treatment of plaque
psoriasis and a 0.3% foam for treatment of seborrheic
dermatitis. It is also available in an oral formulation
(Daliresp) for treatment of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease.
10
Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Plaque Psoriasis (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • September 30, 2024; (Issue 1712)
View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Plaque Psoriasis