Class | Name/Company | Approval Dates and Comments |
Anti-acne | Tretinoin gel 0.1% Retin-A Micro® Ortho
| Approved by the FDA for acne treatment. Reported to cause less irritation than the original Retin-A® formulation. |
Anti-HIV | Delavirdine Rescriptor® Pharmacia & Upjohn
| Approved by the FDA April 7, 1997 as an added potency enhancement agent of HIV drug cocktails. It is a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, which is not as powerful as protease inhibitors. Skin reaction is the main side effect of delavirdine. |
Nelfinavir Viracept® Agouron Pharmaceuticals
| Indication(s): Approved by the FDA March 14, 1997 for treatment of HIV infection when therapy is warranted Nelfinavir is the first protease inhibitor approved simultaneously for adults and children. In trials, it was combined with zidovudine (Retrovir®) or lamivudine (Epivir®). |
Antipsoriasis | Calcipotriene ointment Dovonex® Bristol Myers Squibb
| The efficacy claim for once daily dosing of plaque psoriasis was approved by the FDA March 20, 1997. |
Antiviral | Valacyclovir tablet Valtrex® Glaxo Wellcome
| Labelling amendment approved FDA April 30, 1997. The contraindication in immunocompromised patients has been removed and reference to “in immunocompetent adults” has been removed from the indication statements. |
Laser system | Pulsed Er:Yag laser system Derma 20® Esc Medical Systems Ltd.
| Approved by the FDA April 15, 1997. This laser system is used for general dermatologic applications, including skin resurfacing applications. |
Skin Substitute | Human skin equivalent Apligraf® Novartis
| Approved in Canada April 1997 for use in healing venous leg ulcers. See article on page one of this issue. |
Wart removal | Podofilox gel 0.5% Condylox® Oclassen
| Approved by the FDA March 13, 1997 for the treatment of perianal warts and external genital warts. The topical solution was previously approved for external genital warts only. |