REVUFORJ

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FDA Approves Revuforj for the Treatment of Adult and Pediatric Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Leukemia with a KMT2A Translocation

Syndax Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Revuforj (revumenib) as the first and only menin inhibitor for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (R/R) acute leukemia with a lysine methyltransferase 2A gene (KMT2A) translocation in adult and pediatric patients one year and older. The FDA previously granted Breakthrough Therapy and Fast Track designations as well as Priority Review for Revuforj. The New Drug Application (NDA) received approval through the FDA’s Real Time Oncology Review (RTOR) program.

  • Syndax expected that the 110 and 160mg tablets of Revuforj will be available for order in the United States through a network of specialty distributors and specialty pharmacies in November. Syndax expected that the 25mg tablets, which may be used to treat patients who weigh less than 40kg, will be commercially available in the late first quarter or early second quarter of 2025.
  • Prior to commercial availability of the 25mg tablets, an oral solution of revumenib will be available through an expanded access program to allow for dosing of patients who weigh less than 40kg.

Source: Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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DANZITEN

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FDA Approves Danziten Tablets, the First and Only Nilotinib with No Mealtime Restrictions

Azurity Pharmaceuticals has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Danziten. This is the first and only nilotinib with no mealtime restrictions indicated for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+CML) in chronic phase, and in adult patients with chronic phase (CP), and acute phase (AP) resistant or intolerant to prior therapy that included imatinib.

  • Tasigna® has established efficacy in adults with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP and resistant or
    intolerant Ph+ CML-CP and CML-AP; however, Tasigna has variable bioavailability that considerably
    increases when taken with food.
  • Danziten offers a new nilotinib treatment option with the equivalent efficacy to Tasigna, but
    without the fasting requirements of Tasigna.

Source: Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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KEBILIDI™

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FDA Approves Kebilidi Gene Therapy for the Treatment of AADC Deficiency

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accelerated approval of its gene therapy for the treatment of AADC deficiency, the first-ever gene therapy approved in the United States that is directly administered to the brain.

  • The gene therapy, which will be marketed in the United States with the brand name Kebilidi™ (eladocagene exuparvovec-tneq), is indicated for the treatment of children and adults with AADC deficiency, including the full spectrum of disease severity.
  • AADC deficiency is a highly morbid and life-shortening rare genetic disorder that results in the inability to synthesize dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential for motor function. Kebilidi is a gene replacement therapy that is directly administered to the putamen of the brain through a stereotactic neurosurgical procedure.

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AUCATZYL

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FDA Approves Aucatzyl for Adults with Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Autolus Therapeutics plc has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted marketing approval for Aucatzyl (obecabtagene autoleucel) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL).

  • Aucatzyl is a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy.
  • Aucatzyl is the first CAR T therapy approved by the FDA with no requirement for a REMS program (Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy).
  • ALL is an aggressive type of blood cancer that can also involve the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, central nervous system, and other organs.

Source: Autolus Therapeutics plc

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Anxiety Medications and Alcohol Interactions

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Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on May 30, 2024.
Side effects like drowsiness, impaired driving, and respiratory depression (slowed breathing) can worsen when anxiety drugs are combined with alcohol. Many medicines used for anxiety should be used short-term and, in general, you should avoid or limit alcohol with these drugs. Follow the advice from your healthcare provider.

Many anxiety drugs have central nervous system depressant activity and interact with alcohol, so it is
important to understand your risks. A wide variety of medications from different classes, such as
antidepressants or benzodiazepines, are used to treat anxiety disorders.


Source: FDA; Courtesy of Drugs.com

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Daybue™

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FDA Approves Daybue (trofinetide) for the Treatment of Rett Syndrome

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Daybue (trofinetide) for the treatment of Rett syndrome in adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older. Daybue is the first and only drug approved for the treatment of Rett syndrome.

Rett syndrome is a complex, rare, neurodevelopmental disorder typically caused by a genetic mutation on the MECP2 gene. It is characterized by a period of normal development until six to 18 months of age, followed by significant developmental regression with loss of acquired communication skills and purposeful hand use. Symptoms of Rett syndrome may also include development of hand stereotypies, such as hand wringing and clapping, and gait abnormalities. Rett syndrome is believed to affect 6,000 to 9,000 patients in the U.S.,with a diagnosed population of approximately 4,500 U.S. patients. Daybue is not recommended for patients with moderate or severe renal impairment.

Daybue™ is expected to be available in the U.S. by the end of April, 2023.

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Zavzpret

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Pfizer Inc. has announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zavzpret (zavegepant), the first and only calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist nasal spray for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. There are several other CGRP antagonists currently on the market — some for acute treatment of migraine, others for migraine prevention, and some can be used for both. (i.e. injectables: ajovy, aimovig, emgality, vyepti oral: qulipta, ubrelvy, and nurtec).

In its pivotal Phase 3 study, Zavzpret was statistically superior to placebo on the co-primary endpoints of pain freedom and freedom from most bothersome symptom at two hours post-dose. The pivotal study also demonstrated pain relief as early as 15 minutes in a prespecified secondary endpoint versus placebo.

The FDA approval is based on two pivotal randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that established the efficacy, tolerability and safety profiles of Zavzpret for the acute treatment of migraine. In these studies, Zavzpret was statistically superior to placebo on the co-primary endpoints of pain freedom (defined as a reduction of moderate or severe headache pain to no headache pain) and freedom from most bothersome symptom at two hours post-dose (defined as the absence of the selfidentified most bothersome symptom).

Zavzpret is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to zavegepant or to any of its components. Hypersensitivity reactions, including facial swelling and urticaria, have occurred with Zavzpret in clinical studies.

Zavzpret is anticipated to be available in pharmacies in July 2023.

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Researchers announce highly accurate blood test for Alzheimer’s Disease

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A team of researchers from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanVirtua SOM) and Durin Technologies, Inc., have announced the results of a newly-designed blood test that can detect the presence of Alzheimer’s disease-related pathology up to 10 years before symptoms arise with a nearly 97 percent accuracy rate. Their findings appear online ahead of press in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

The study involved 328 blood samples with the goal of determining if a test that monitors a small number of a patient’s autoantibodies can detect Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related pathology at presymptomatic, prodromal (i.e., mild cognitive impairment), and mild-moderate stages of the disease.

The research team showed that their test, using just eight autoantibody biomarkers, could accurately identify the presence of Alzheimer’s disease pathology across the disease’s progression, including among those originally determined to have no trace of the disease.

For a number of reasons, the test has significant potential to impact effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. The test is minimally invasive and inexpensive, it can diagnose or predict clinical decline in asymptomatic individuals, and it can monitor a patient’s progress while under treatment, making it ideal for use in clinical trials and in frontline and community primary care settings, including those in rural and economically disadvantaged regions.

The researchers noted that the use of autoantibodies as blood-based biomarkers is particularly exciting because it enables development of a platform technology for early detection of multiple diseases.

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Rezvoglar Price Announced

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Eli Lilly announced the price of Rezvoglar (insulin glargine-aglr) as well as price cuts on other insulin products and a cap on out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for insulin. Lilly’s announcement was not unexpected, based on recent publicity and legislation regarding drug prices, particularly with respect to insulin.

In today’s announcement, Lilly stated that a five-pack of KwikPens will be priced at $92, which is a 78% discount to Sanofi’s Lantus (insulin glargine). This price will be effective starting on April 1, 2023.

Rezvoglar was approved as the second interchangeable biosimilar to Lantus on November 17, 2022.
Biocon’s Semglee was approved as the first interchangeable biosimilar to Lantus, and Biocon launched
both branded and unbranded versions.

Once Rezvoglar launches, patients can receive Rezvoglar or Semglee (branded or unbranded) at the pharmacy in place of branded or unbranded Lantus. Rezvoglar’s label does not specify whether it is interchangeable with Semglee, only that it is interchangeable with Lantus.

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