Monica Holmberg, PharmD, BCPS

Monica Holmberg, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacist in Phoenix, Arizona, and a Pharmacy Times contributor.

Articles by Monica Holmberg, PharmD, BCPS

The FDA has approved Jentadueto XR (linagliptin and metformin hydrochloride extended-release) tablets as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes when treatment with both linagliptin and metformin is appropriate.

The FDA has approved Xtampza ER extended-release capsules, CII, for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

The FDA has approved Basaglar, a long-acting human insulin analog, to improve glycemic control in adults and children with type 1 diabetes and in adults with type 2 diabetes.

The FDA has approved Vraylar, an atypical antipsychotic, for the treatment of schizophrenia and the acute treatment of mixed or manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder.

The FDA has approved Belbuca buccal film for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

The FDA has approved Repatha (evolocumab) injection, a human monoclonal antibody that works to decrease low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

The FDA has approved Symplmed's Prestalia (perindopril arginine and amlodipine besylate) tablets for the treatment of hypertension to lower blood pressure in patients who are not adequately controlled with monotherapy or as initial therapy in patients likely to need multiple medications to achieve their blood pressure (BP) goals.1 An estimated 1 in 3 Americans have hypertension, about half of whom have it controlled.

The FDA has approved Amgen's Corlanor to reduce the risk of hospitalization for worsening heart failure in patients with stable, symptomatic chronic HF with left ventricular ejection fraction.

The FDA has approved Merck's Belsomra (suvorexant), a Schedule IV substance, for the treatment of insomnia, as characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or sleep maintenance.

The FDA has approved Impax Pharmaceuticals' Rytary for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, postencephalitic parkinsonism, and parkinsonism that may follow carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication.

The FDA has approved Merck's Keytruda injection for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following administration of ipilimumab and, if positive for the BRAF V600 mutation, a BRAF inhibitor.

The FDA has approved Xigduo XR (dapagliflozin and metformin HCl extended-release tablets) as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus when treatment with both dapagliflozin and metformin is appropriate.