| Class |
Name/Company |
Approval Dates and Comments |
|
Anticancer
|
Methoxsalen
Uvadex
Therakos |
In April, 1999, the FDA approved this drug for extracorporeal
administration with the UVAR Photophoresis system in the
palliative treatment of skin manifestations of cutaneous T-cell
lymphoma that are unresponsive to other forms of treatment.
|
|
Diabetic
ulcers
|
Becaplermin 0.01%
Regranex®
Janssen-Ortho |
FDA approved for the treatment of full thickness, lower
extremity diabetic ulcers.
|
|
Metastatic
melanoma
|
Aldesleukin
Proleukin®
Chiron |
Approved in February, 1999, by the US FDA for the treatment
of metastatic melanoma in adults.
|
|
Post-herpetic
neuralgia
|
Post-herpetic
neuralgia
Lidoderm® patch
Endo Pharmaceuticals |
Approved in March, 1999, by the US FDA to treat the pain associated
with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) complication of shingles. This is
the first product approved by the FDA for the treatment of PHN.
|
|
Anti-inflammatory
dermatoses
|
Betamethasone valerate foam
Luxiq® 0.12%
Connetics Corporation
|
Approved in March, 1999, by the US FDA for the relief of
inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroidresponsive
dermatoses of the scalp.
|
| Drug News |
|
Anticancer
|
Paclitaxel
Taxop®
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
|
Nail disorders or changes may occur more often than was at
first thought. These changes can include discoloring,
nailthickening, onycholysis, and paronychia.
|
|
Dietary
supplements
|
Labels must now list all ingredients in order of quantity, suggested serving, percent daily value and
amount of calories. Vitamin and mineral product labels must state the quantity of specific nutrients
and herbal products must specify the actual plant parts used.
|
|
Malignant
melanoma
|
Temozolomide
Temodal®
Schering-Plough
|
The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee recommended
against approval of temozolomide because of an inability to
demonstrate any superiority over dacarbazine for this condition.
|
|
Tinea pedis
|
Terbinafine HCl cream 1%
Lamisil®
Novartis
|
In March, 1999, the FDA approved the switch from prescription
status to over-the-counter availability of terbinafine cream for
tinea pedis.
|
