The oral polymerase acidic endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza — Genentech) is now FDAapproved for post-exposure prophylaxis of influenza in patients ≥12 years old. Baloxavir was approved for treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in patients ≥12 years old in 2018.1 Two neuraminidase inhibitors are FDA-approved for prophylaxis of influenza: oseltamivir (Tamiflu, and generics) in patients ≥1 year old, and zanamivir (Relenza) in patients ≥5 years old.2 Unlike oseltamivir and zanamivir, baloxavir is not FDA-approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis of...

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.

The FDA has approved a 0.25% ophthalmic solution of the ectoparasiticide lotilaner (Xdemvy – Tarsus) for treatment of Demodex blepharitis. Lotilaner is the first drug to be approved in the US for this indication.

Carteolol (Cartrol - Abbott) and penbutolol (Levatol - Reed & Carnrick), two oral beta-adrenergic blocking drugs, were recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for once-daily treatment of systemic hypertension. Both drugs are non-selective beta-blockers with mild partial agonist activity. Beta-blockers currently available in the USA for treatment of hypertension are listed in the table on the next page.

Doxazosin (mesylate - Roerig), an alpha1-adrenergic receptor blocker similar to prazosin (Minipress, and others) and terazosin (Hytrin), was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of hypertension.

Valsartan (Diovan - Novartis), a non-peptide tetrazole, is the second angiotensin II receptor antagonist approved for oral treatment of hypertension by the US Food and Drug Administration. The first was losartan (Cozaar - Medical Letter, 37:57, 1995).

Zolmitriptan (Zomig - Zeneca), a selective serotonin (5-HT1)-receptor agonist, is now available in the USA for oral treatment of migraine headache. Zomitriptan structurally resembles sumatriptan (Imitrex - Medical Letter 34:91, 1992). Drugs currently used for acute treatment of migraine include injectable, oral and nasal spray formulations of sumaptriptan, injectable dihydroergotamine, dihydroergotamine nasal spray, ergotamine tartrate alone or with caffeine, and various analgesics. Anoterh 5-HT1-receptor agonist, naratriptan (Amerge - Gaxo Wellcome), has been approved by the FDA but has not...

Trovafloxacin (Trovan - Pfizer) and its prodrug alatrofoxacin (Trovan IV) are new fluroroquinolones marketed for an unusually wide variety of infections, including oral and intravenous treatment of nosocomial and community-acquired pneumonia, acute ecerbations of chronic bronchitis, acute sinusitis, complicate intra-abdominal and pelvic infections, diabetic foot infection, uncomplicated urinary tract infection, prostatitis, cervicitis and uncomplicated gonorrhea.

Neotame (Neotame - NutraSweet Co.), an analog of aspartame (NutraSweet, and others), has been approved by the FDA for use as a nonnutritive sweetener and "flavor enhancer" in foods and beverages. Other non-caloric sweeteners available in the US include saccharin (Sweet'N Low, and others), acesulfame potassium (Sunette - Medical Letter, 1988; 30:116) and sucralose (Splenda - Medical Letter, 1998; 40:67). Neotame was approved for use in Australia and New Zealand in 2001.

The FDA has approved the oral direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran (da big’ a tran) etexilate (Pradaxa – Boehringer Ingelheim) for prevention of thromboembolic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. It has been available in Canada (Pradax) since 2008 for prevention of thromboembolism in patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery and was recently approved there for use in atrial fibrillation.