Claims for the superiority of various calcium supplements are now appearing on television and in the print media. A high calcium intake combined with vitamin D can increase bone density and reduce the incidence of fractures in older women and probably also in men.

Lonapegsomatropin-tcgd (Skytrofa – Ascendis), a long-acting prodrug of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), has been approved by the FDA for once-weekly subcutaneous (SC) treatment of growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone in children ≥1 year old who weigh ≥11.5 kg. It is the first once-weekly rhGH product to be approved in the US; other available rhGH formulations are administered more frequently.

Saw palmetto, an "herbal supplement,"is now being heavily promoted to the general public for treatment of urinary symptoms related to prostatic enlargement. It has not been approved for any use by the FDA.

The FDA has approved Technivie (Abbvie), a fixed-dose combination of the direct-acting antiviral agents ombitasvir and paritaprevir and the pharmacokinetic enhancer ritonavir, for oral treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infection in patients without cirrhosis. It is indicated for use in combination with ribavirin. Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir copackaged with dasabuvir, an HCV RNA polymerase inhibitor that has little activity against HCV genotype 4, is approved as Viekira Pak for treatment of HCV genotype 1 infection.1HCV genotype 4 is uncommon in the US and Canada. It...

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Changes caused by one drug in the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of another may lead to a pharmacokinetic adverse drug interaction (DN Juurlink et al, JAMA 2003; 289:1652). Additive drug interactions, such as vasodilation caused by both sildenafil (Viagra) and nitrates, can also have adverse effects.

Rufinamide (Banzel - Eisai), a triazole derivative structurally unrelated to other marketed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), has been approved by the FDA for treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) in patients ≥4 years old.

(Kodak) perform clinical chemistry tests using desk-top instruments, microliter samples and postage-stamp-sized analytical slides containing dry reagents layered on clear polyester and mounted in plastic. The system requires no wet reagents, except for electrolyte determinations, and is designed to require a minimum amount of training to operate. A single analysis takes about five minutes.

The FDA has approved Viekira Pak (Abbvie), a fixed-dose combination of two new direct-acting antiviral agents (ombitasvir, paritaprevir) with the pharmacologic enhancer ritonavir in one tablet, co-packaged with a third new direct-acting antiviral agent (dasabuvir) in a second tablet, for oral treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection. Genotype 1 is responsible for 70-80% of HCV infections in the US.

The FDA has approved a low-dose formulation of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine mesylate (Brisdelle – Noven Therapeutics) for treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. It is the first non-hormonal therapy to be approved for this indication. Paroxetine mesylate (Pexeva) and paroxetine hydrochloride (Paxil, and generics) are marketed in higher doses for treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders.