Overview / Abstract: |
In 2015, the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) approved 45 new molecular entities – the highest annual number of new drugs to be approved in the past decade (up from 41 in 2014). The new approvals include 16 first-in-class drugs spanning 14 different medical conditions. Many of the new drugs were approved under one or more of the FDA’s 4 expedited pathways (fast track, breakthrough, priority review, and accelerated approval). Nearly half are for the treatment of rare diseases that affect 200,000 or fewer Americans. A number of the new drugs treat various cancers, including multiple myeloma, lung cancer, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, neuroblastoma, breast, colorectal, and thyroid cancers. The new approvals also include drugs for heart failure, high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome, hepatitis C, and cystic fibrosis, as well as a reversal agent for the oral anticoagulant dabigatran. This issue provides detailed reviews of 2 PCSK9 inhibitors for LDL cholesterol lowering; 2 products for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea; a drug for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women; a selective uric acid reabsorption inhibitor for patients with gout; and a novel treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma. Four new oral cancer drugs – 2 for nonsmall cell lung cancer and 2 for multiple myeloma – are also briefly reviewed. Usual doses and selected drug interactions are summarized in Table 1. Nine more new drugs that are likely to be relevant in everyday practice are described in Table 2. Both tables include pronunciation guides. |
Expiration |
Apr 23, 2019 |
Discipline(s) |
Nursing CNE, Pharmacy CPE |
Format |
Monograph, Online |
Cost |
10.00 |
Credits / Hours |
2.0 |
Accreditation |
ACPE |
Presenters / Authors / Faculty |
James Chan, PharmD, PhD |
Keywords / Search Terms |
Continuing Education Network Inc. first-in-class drugs, FDA, cancer, PCSK9 inhibitors, LDL cholesterol lowering, irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, gout, eosinophilic asthma, heart failure, high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome, hepatitis C, cystic fibrosis |