Update on Drugs and Drug News - Number 6 2000

Antifungal Agent

Caspofungin Acetate
Cancidas
Merck

The US FDA approved this antifungal agent in January 2001, for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate other antifungal therapies. It is in a new class of antifungals called echinocandins or glucan synthesis inhibitors, and the first to be approved by the FDA.

Hair Growth

5% Minoxidil Topical Solution
Alpharma

The US FDA approved this generic version of Rogaine (Pharmacia), in November 2000, for the treatment of thinning hair or hair loss in men.

Sunscreens

Mequinol 2%, Tretinoin 0.1%
Solagé Topical Solution
Westwood Squibb

TPP – Canada approved this topical agent in January 2001, for the treatment of solar lentigines and related hyperpigmented lesions.

Human Skin Construct

Biologically Active Dressing
Composite Cultured Skin (CCS)
Ortec International

The US FDA approved this human skin construct in February 2001, for patients undergoing hand reconstruction to treat recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic disorder. CCS was approved under the Humanitarian Device Exemption Program, which is reserved for devices that treat diseases affecting less than 4000 people in the US.

Depigmenting Agents

Xtrac Excimer Laser System
PhotoMedex

The US FDA approved an additional indication for this system in February 2001, for the treatment of vitiligo. It was originally approved in January 2001, for the treatment of psoriasis. This system uses UVB radiation and offers an alternative to PUVA, the most popular therapy for vitiligo.

Drug Warning

The US FDA is advising manufacturers of vaginal creams and suppositories containing miconazole to add a new warning on product labels advising women who take warfarin (an anticoagulant) to check with their doctor for advice before using these OTC products. The FDA has received reports of women who experienced problems with blood clotting when taking the two drugs simultaneously. Physicians and patients should be aware that patients who need to use both these drugs at the same time should be monitored.

Antiviral Agent

Abreva (docosanol 10% cream was launched by SmithKline Beecham (licensed from Avanir Pharmaceuticals) in the US as an OTC treatment for recurrent oral-facial herpes infections.

Anti-acne Agent

Dermik Laboratories launched its new combination acne therapy, BenzaClin Topical Gel (clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5%) in February 2001. In clinical studies this drug was shown to be significantly more effective that either clindamycin or benzoyl peroxide alone in treating acne. BenzaClin is now available by prescription in the US.

Neurotoxin

Athena Neurosciences, a division of Elan Pharma launched NeuroBloc (botulinum toxin type B) in the UK in February 2001. It is the first treatment for cervical dystonia that contains the type B form of this neurotoxin.