Health Systems Pharmacy Product News

Vinorelbine Injection

Sagent Pharmaceuticals (Schaumberg, IL) has launched vinorelbine injection, USP. An antimitotic chemotherapy drug, vinorelbine injection is indicated as a single agent or in combination with cisplatin for the first-line treatment of ambulatory patients with unresectable, advanced non—smallcell lung cancer (NSCLC). In patients with stage IV NSCLC, vinorelbine injection is indicated as a single agent or in combination with cisplatin, and in those with stage III NSCLC, it is indicated in combination with cisplatin. Offered in 10 mg per 1 mL and 50 mg per 5 mL, vinorelbine injection is latex- and preservative-free and comes in single-dose vials with easy-to-read product and dosage information. For more information, visit www.sagentpharma. com.

HemCon Patch

HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc (Portland, OR) offers a noninvasive, hemostatic patch aimed at enabling health care providers to enhance their direct pressure protocol during catheterization procedures. Indicated for control of bleeding from the skin at percutaneous needle access sites, vascular access sites, and percutaneous catheter access sites, the patch reduces time to hemostasis and is even effective for patients on anticoagulants. The HemCon Patch also has an antibacterial barrier to protect against a multitude of microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and Acinetobacter baumannii. This barrier may help lower the risk of hospital-acquired infection. Measuring 1.5 x 1.5 inches, the HemCon Patch is designed for maximum utility. Flexibility allows it to contour to the patient where applied and offers the ability to monitor a patient’s pulse while providing comfort. Its clear backing further assists in patient monitoring. Aside from its antibacterial shield, the safety of the HemCon Patch comes from its lack of human or bovine clotting factors, as well as the assurance of no adverse effects being reported in field use. To find out more about the HemCon Patch, visit www.hemcon.com.

Istodax

Gloucester Pharmaceuticals (Cambridge, MA) recently announced the FDA approval of Istodax (romidepsin) for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in patients who have received at least 1 prior systemic therapy. A member of a new class of cancer drugs known as histone deacetylase inhibitors, Istodax has a recommended dose of 14 mg/m2 administered intravenously over a 4-hour period on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Cycles should be repeated every 28 days if the patient continues to benefit from and tolerate the therapy. Istodax must be reconstituted with the supplied diluent and further diluted with 0.9% sodium chloride injection, USP, before intravenous infusion. It is supplied as a kit that includes a sterile, lyophilized powder in a single-use vial containing 10 mg of romidepsin and 20 mg of the bulking agent, povidone, USP. Each kit also includes 1 sterile vial containing 2 mL (deliverable volume) of the diluent, composed of 80% propylene glycol, USP, and 20% dehydrated alcohol, USP. The new drug application approval for Istodax was based on efficacy data from 2 clinical studies encompassing 167 patients. For more information, visit www.istodax.com.

PhaSeal Secondary Set (C60)

Carmel Pharma (Columbus, OH), manufacturer of the PhaSeal System for the safe handling of hazardous drugs, has recently introduced its PhaSeal Secondary Set (C60) for the safe and efficient preparation and administration of intravenous (IV) bag infusions. The new, non-vented component provides streamlined, protected spiking, priming, and IV bag infusion with hazardous drugs and features a drip chamber (20 drops/mL); flow stop to facilitate priming of the Secondary Set from the bag prior to adding the drug; universal spike with built-in PhaSeal Connector for safe, leakproof transfer of the drug to the IV bag; and 40 inches of DEHP-free tubing. For more information, call 866-487-9250 or visit www.phaseal.com. â–