Rx Product News (June 2019)

MANUFACTURED BY: GlaxoSmithKline plc

INDICATION: The FDA recently approved Benlysta (belimumab) for the treatment of systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in children. The intravenous infusion was approved for adult patients in 2011 and is now the first FDA-approved treatment for pediatric SLE. Although SLE is rare in children, it is often more active in adolescents and children, increasing the risks of complications, organ damage, and adverse effects of lifelong treatment in these patients.

DOSAGE FORM: Intravenous infusion

FOR MORE INFORMATION: benlysta.com

KADCYLA

MANUFACTURED BY: Genentech

INDICATION: The FDA has approved Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine) for the treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer in patients who have residual invasive disease after treatment with neoadjuvant taxane- and trastuzamab-based treatments. The newly approved adjuvant treatment is given to patients after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells after initial treatment to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

DOSAGE FORM: Intravenous infusion

FOR MORE INFORMATION: kadcyla.com

SPRAVATOMANUFACTURED BY: Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies

INDICATION: The FDA recently approved Spravato (esketamine CIII nasal spray) for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults with treatment-resistant depression when taken in conjunction with oral antidepressants. The new drug is effective in treating depression, but because of adverse effects, including dissociation and sedation, along with the risk of abuse, it is only available through restricted distribution.

DOSAGE FORM: Intranasal spray

FOR MORE INFORMATION: spravato.com

DUPIXENT

MANUFACTURED BY: Regeneron and Sanofi

INDICATION: The FDA recently approved Dupixent (dupilumab) for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in those aged 12 to 17 years. The approval is significant for teenagers who have not seen adequate improvement in their dermatitis and, until this approval, have not had other treatment options. Dupixent can be used with or without corticosteroids. The therapy works by inhibiting signals of interleukin-3 and interleukin-4, proteins that play a role in the inflammation that causes atopic dermatitis and other allergic diseases. The drug was previously approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults and for moderate to severe asthma in patients older than 12 years.

DOSAGE FORM: Subcutaneous injection

FOR MORE INFORMATION: dupixent.com