Health Systems Product News

10-mL Steri-Dropper

EPS Inc (Ivyland, PA) recently added the 10-mL Steri- Dropper to its line of sterile ophthalmic dispensing containers. The bottles also are available in 3-, 7-, and 15-mL sizes. All 4 sizes in the product line are manufactured from a special zinc stearate-free resin. This special plastic minimizes the risk of particulate forming in solution with certain ophthalmic preparations. For more information, visit www.medidose.com, or call 800-523-8966.

(Lake Forest, IL) recently announced the launch of Enlon (edrophonium chloride injection, USP) and Enlon-Plus (edrophonium chloride, USP and atropine sulfate, USP) injection. Enlon is indicated for the differential diagnosis of myasthenia gravis and as an adjunct in the evaluation of treatment requirements in this disease. It also may be used for evaluating emergency treatment in myasthenic crises. Because of its brief duration of action, it is not recommended for maintenance therapy in myasthenia gravis. Enlon-Plus is indicated as a reversal agent or antagonist of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents. It is not effective against depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents. It is also useful if used adjunctively in the treatment of respiratory depression caused by curare overdosage. Enlon is available in 15-mL multiple-dose vials. Enlon-Plus is available in 5-mL single-dose ampuls and 15-mL multiple-dose vials. For more information, visit www.bionichepharma.com, or call 888-258-4199.

Simponi

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc (Horsham, PA) recently received FDA approval for Simponi (golimumab) for the treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in adults, in combination with methotrexate, active psoriatic arthritis in adults, alone or in combination with methotrexate, and active ankylosing spondylitis in adults. The product is the first patient-administered anti— tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy that offers an effective once-monthly treatment option. The recommended dose of Simponi is 50 mg by subcutaneous injection once a month. The product is supplied in a 50-mg/ 0.5-mL single-dose prefilled SmartJect autoinjector and in a 50-mg/0.5-mL single-dose prefilled syringe. For more information, visit www.simponi.com.

(South San Francisco, CA) recently received accelerated FDA approval for Avastin (bevacizumab) for patients with glioblastoma with progressive disease following prior therapy. The product was the first antiangiogenesis therapy approved by the FDA. Avastin also is indicated for the first- and second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with intravenous (IV) 5-fluorouracil— based chemotherapy; for the first-line treatment of unresectable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic, nonsquamous, non—small-cell lung cancer in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel; and for previously untreated, metastatic or locally recurrent HER2-negative breast cancer in combination with paclitaxel. The recommended dose of Avastin for glioblastoma is 10 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks. The product is available in 100-mg/4-mL and 400-mg/16-mL single-use vials. For more information, visit www.avastin.com. â–