health-systems PRODUCT news

ABILIFY(aripiprazole)Injection

Bristol-MyersSquibb Co (Princeton,NJ) and OtsukaPharmaceutical Co(Tokyo, Japan) recentlylaunched ABILIFYInjection for intramuscularuse. Theproduct provides raidcontrol of agitation in adults withschizophrenia or bipolar mania at theprimary end point (2 hours). ABILIFYInjection is available in single-doseready-to-use vials as a 9.75-mg/1.3-mL(7.5-mg/mL), clear, colorless, sterile,aqueous solution. The recommendeddose is 9.75 mg. For more information,visit www.abilify.com.

Hycamtin (topotecan HCl)Injection

GlaxoSmithKline's (Research TrianglePark, NC) Hycamtin Injection hasa new indication. The product, in combinationwith cisplatin, is indicated forthe treatment of histologically confirmedstage IV-B, recurrent, or persistentcarcinoma of the cervix, which isnot amenable to curative treatmentwith surgery and/or radiation therapy.Hycamtin Injection is also indicated forthe treatment of metastatic carcinomaof the ovary after failure of initial orsubsequent chemotherapy, and thetreatment of small cell lung cancersensitive disease after failure of firstlinechemotherapy. Prior to the administrationof the first course of HycamtinInjection for patients with cervical cancer,patients must have a baselineabsolute neutrophil count of >1500cells/mm³ and a platelet count of>100,000 cells/mm³. The recommendeddose of the product is 0.75 mg/m²by intravenous (IV) infusion over 30minutes daily on days 1, 2, and 3; followedby cisplatin 50 mg/m² by IV infusionon day 1 repeated every 21 days (a21-day course). Prior to the administrationof the first course of HycamtinInjection for patients with ovarian/small cell lung cancer, patients musthave a baseline neutrophil count of>1500 cells/mm³ and a platelet countof >100,000 cells/mm³. The recommendeddose of Hycamtin Injection is1.5 mg/m² by IV infusion over 30 minutesdaily for 5 consecutive days, startingon day 1 of a 21-day course.For more information, visit www.hycamtin.com.

INVANZ (ertapenem for injection)

Merck & Co Inc (Whitehouse Station,NJ) recently received FDA approvalfor INVANZ for the prophylaxis of surgicalsite infection following elective colorectalsurgery in adults. In addition tothe new indication, the product is indicatedfor the treatment of adults andpediatric patients >3 months of age forthe following moderate-to-severe infectionscaused by susceptible isolates ofthe designated pathogens: complicatedintra-abdominal infections, complicatedskin and skin structure infections, community-acquired pneumonia, complicatedurinary tract infections, and acutepelvic infections. The dose of INVANZ inpatients aged 13 years and older is 1 ggiven once a day. The INVANZ dose inpatients aged 3 months to 12 years is15 mg/kg twice a day. The product maybe administered by intravenous infusionfor up to 14 days or intramuscularinjection for up to 7 days. When administeredintravenously, INVANZ should beinfused over a 30-minute period. Formore information, visit www.invanz.com.

Ondansetron Injection USP

Abraxis Pharmaceutical Products(Schaumburg, Ill) recently launchedOndansetron Injection USP. The productis bar-coded, latex-free, AP-rated,and the generic equivalent of ZofranInjection (GlaxoSmithKline). The productis indicated for the prevention ofnausea and vomiting associated withinitial and repeat courses of emetogeniccancer chemotherapy, includinghigh-dose cisplatin, and prevention ofpostoperative nausea and/or vomiting.Ondansetron Injection USP is availablein single-dose and multiple-dose vials.For more information, visit www.appdrugs.com, or call 800-551-7176.

SafeBreak

EPS Inc (Ivyland, Pa) has expandedits line of safety products for use in thepreparation and dispensing of medication.SafeBreak disposable plastic fractureand safety collars were designedto protect practitioners from glasssplinters when breaking ampules. TheSafeBreak collar is available in 3 sizesto accommodate all sizes of ampules.The product works by fitting the collarover the top of the ampule, squeezingtightly, and snapping safely to open.For more information, call 800-523-8966, or visit www.medi-dose.com.