Rx Product News (August 2019)

SOLIRIS (EXULIZUMAB)MANUFACTURED BY: Alexion Pharmaceuticals

INDICATION: The FDA recently approved Soliris to treat adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are anti-aquaporin 4 antibody-positive. NMOSD is a rare autoimmune disease affecting mainly the optic nerves and the spinal cord. Individuals with NMOSD typically have eye pain and vision loss and can sometimes experience numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the arms and legs. Soliris is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, in which the prescriber must enroll.

DOSAGE FORM: Intravenous

FOR MORE INFORMATION: alexion.com

DUPIXENT (DUPILUMAB)MANUFACTURED BY: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

INDICATION: The FDA has approved Dupixent to treat adults with nasal polyps accompanied by chronic rhinosinusitis. Dupixent is the first approved treatment for uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Nasal polyps can lead to loss of smell and often require surgery to remove, but patients taking Dupixent reported an increased ability to smell and required surgery less often. The most common adverse effects of Dupixent include injection site reactions and eye and eyelid inflammation.

DOSAGE FORM: Subcutaneous injection

FOR MORE INFORMATION: dupixent.com/crswnp

VYLEESI (BREMELANOTIDE)MANUFACTURED BY: AMAG Pharmaceuticals

INDICATION: The FDA has approved Vyleesi to treat acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. HSDD causes low sexual desire that can lead to interpersonal difficulty and marked distress and is not due to a coexisting medical or psychiatric condition. Vyleesi works by activating melanocortin receptors, but the exact mechanism by which it improves sexual desire is unknown. Common adverse effects include flushing, headaches, injection site reactions, and vomiting.

DOSAGE FORM: Subcutaneous injection

FOR MORE INFORMATION: vyleesi.com

JARDIANCE (EMPAGLIFLOZIN)

MANUFACTURED BY: Eli Lily and Company

INDICATION: The FDA has granted fast track designation to Jardiance (empagliflozin) for reducing the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in individuals with chronic heart failure. The designation is for 2 trials that will evaluate the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in more than 8500 people with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (EMPEROR-Reduced) and preserved ejection fraction (EMPEROR-Preserved). Empagliflozin is marketed in the United States as Jardiance for the reduction of risks of cardiovascular deaths in adults with established cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

DOSAGE FORM: Once-daily tablet

FOR MORE INFORMATION: jardiancehcp.com