FDA Updates

FDA approved tiotropium bromide (Spiriva Respimat, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals) inhalation spray for the long-term, once-daily maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to reduce exacerbations in patients with COPD.

It's back-to-school season. Mom and Dad can be losing their hair for a few reasons - finding something crawling on the kids' heads is just the beginning. Here's a host of solutions for parents and their young.

FDA has approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck) for treatment of patients with advanced or unresectable melanoma who are no longer responding to other drugs. Pembrolizumab, which received breakthrough therapy designation for advanced melanoma, is the sixth new melanoma treatment approved since 2011.

A University of Kentucky pharmacy professor has developed a quicker, easier way to deliver naloxone via a nasal spray, and his invention is being fast-tracked by the Food and Drug Administration, according to a report in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

FDA has approved Striverdi Respimat (olodaterol) inhalation spray for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The long-acting beta-adrenergic agonist (LABA) by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals can be used once daily as maintenance therapy.

Approximately 7.8% of adults and 10% of children in the U.S. are afflicted with hay fever symptoms. Pharmacists are able to offer a number of over-the-counter solutions to improve patients' quality of life.

New Products

New Rx, generics, and OTC for pharmacists

OTC Nexium approved

FDA has approved non-prescription esomeprazole 20mg (Nexium 24HR, Pfizer).

Bringing a new tool to the arsenal of medications to treat type 2 diabetes, FDA recently approved the only once-weekly injectable pen for adults with type 2 diabetes-exenatide extended-release for injectable suspension (AstraZeneca, Bydureon Pen).

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has launched moxifloxacin HCl tablets, 400 mg, a therapeutic equivalent generic version of Avelox on March 4, following FDA approval.

FDA approved droxidopa (Northera, Chelsea Therapeutics) capsules for the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). NOH is a rare, chronic and often debilitating condition that is associated with Parkinson's disease, multiple-system atrophy, and pure autonomic failure.