9 New Drugs for Primary Care: Q1 2018

1. Postherpetic Neuralgia: ZTlido (lidocaine topical system) 1.8%, a transdermal anesthetic patch for the treatment of post-shingles pain. The ZTlido patch delivers 1.8% of lidocaine for up to 12-hours of relief. (Approved  02/28/18, Scilex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)

2. Ocular Redness: Lumify (brimonidine tartrate) Ophthalmic Solution, the first and only over-the-counter formulation of low-dose brimonidine tartrate to treat ocular redness. (Approved 12/22/17, Bausch & Lomb Inc.)

3. Acute Pain: Apadaz (acetaminophen and benzhydrocodone hydrochloride) Tablets, an immediate release combination of acetaminophen and benzhydrocodone approved for the short-term (no more than 14 days) management of acute pain. (Approved 02/23/18, KemPharm, Inc.)

4. Plaque Psoriasis: Ilumya (tildrakizumab-asmn) Injection, a humanized, anti-IL-23p19 monoclonal antibody that is injected every 12 weeks at a dose of 100 mg for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. (Approved 03/20/18, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc.)

5. Diabetes Type 1, Type 2: Admelog (insulin lispro) Injection, is the first rapid-acting follow-on insulin analog for the treatment of T1D in children aged 3 years or older and T2D in adults, aimed at improving control in blood sugar levels. It is generally used just before meals, but can also be used in insulin pumps for background insulin. Admelog is available as subcutaneous injection, subcutaneous infusion, or IV infusion. FDA does advise providers to monitor potassium in patients who are at risk of hypokalemia. (Approved 12/11/17, Sanofi).

6. Diabetes: Steglatro (ertugliflozin) Tablets, is the fourth oral SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitor approved in the US and is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with T2DM. It is not recommended for T1D or for treating diabetic ketoacidosis. (Approved 12/19/17, Merck).

7. Pregnancy Prevention: Balcoltra (ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel and ferrous bisglycinate) Tablets, the only branded oral contraceptive combining 0.1 mg levonorgestrel, 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous bisglycinate tablets 36.5 mg for the prevention of pregnancy. (Approved 01/09/18, Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC.)

8. HIV: Trogarzo (ibalizumab-uiyk) Injection, a post-attachment HIV-1 inhibitor directed at CD4 cells for the treatment of multidrug resistant human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in heavily treatment-experienced adult patients. Trogarzo is administered intravenously once every 14 days in combination with other antiretroviral medications. (Approved 03/06/18, TaiMed Biologics USA Corp.)

9. HIV: Cimduo (lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) Tablets, a once-daily combination of two nucleo(t)side reverse transcriptase inhibitors (300mg of lamivudine and 300mg of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) approved for use in combination with other antiretroviral medications for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 35 kg. (Approved 02/28/18, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)