Today, the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH), and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) released a new report finding that continued rising drug prices, as well as shortages for many critical medications, are impacting patient care and putting strains on hospital budgets and operations. The report was prepared based on analysis conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, an independent research institution. See the full press release.
AHFS Drug Information/Essentials Update – October 2017
The October update to the AHFS Drug Information/Essentials database has been published. Highlights from this month’s update include:
New First-Release Monographs
- Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin (Mylotarg®) – 10:00 (Antineoplastic Agents)
- Gemtuzumab was removed from US market June 2010 and reapproved September 2017 with many changes
- New indications:
- Treatment of newly diagnosed CD33-positive acute myeloid leukemia in adults.
- Treatment of relapsed or refractory CD33-positive AML in adults and in pediatric patients 2 years and older.
- Deutetrabenazine (Austedo®) – 28:92 (Central Nervous System Agents, Miscellaneous)
- Treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.
- Treatment of tardive dyskinesia in adults.
- Daunorubicin And Cytarabine (Vyxeos®) – 10:00 (Antineoplastic Agents)
- A liposomal combination of daunorubicin, an anthracycline topoisomerase inhibitor, and cytarabine, a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor, that is indicated for the treatment of adults with newly-diagnosed therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC).
- Selenious Acid – 40:12 (Replacement Preparations)
- Trace element
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin (Besponsa®) – 10:00 (Antineoplastic Agents)
- Treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
FDA MedWatch Alerts
- Increased risks associated with the use of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in combination with dexamethasone and an immunomodulatory agent (lenalidomide or pomalidomide) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.
- Affected monographs:
- 315018,”Pembrolizumab”,”10:00″
- Affected monographs:
- Obeticholic acid (Ocaliva) is being incorrectly dosed in some patients with moderate to severe decreases in liver function, resulting in an increased risk of serious liver injury and death.
- Affected monographs:
- 316059,”Obeticholic Acid”,”56:92″
- Affected monographs:
- Avoid taking the potassium-lowering drug sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) at the same time as other medicines taken by mouth.
- Affected monographs:
- 382108,”Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate”,”40:18.18″
- Affected monographs:
- Opioid addiction medications buprenorphine and methadone should not be withheld from patients taking benzodiazepines or other drugs that depress the central nervous system (CNS).
- Affected monographs:
- 382134,”Methadone”,”28:08.08″
- 387004,”Buprenorphine”,”28:08.12″
- Affected monographs:
