The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new indication for BioThrax (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) to prevent disease following suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax disease. The vaccine’s new use is approved for people 18 through 65 years of age in conjunction with recommended antibiotic treatment. BioThrax was initially approved by the FDA in 1970 for the prevention of anthrax disease in persons at high risk of exposure.
Category Archives: Drug Safety Information Podcasts
FDA approves Opdivo to treat advanced form of kidney cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Opdivo (nivolumab) to treat patients with advanced (metastatic) renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer, who have received a certain type of prior therapy.
FDA approves Ninlaro, new oral medication to treat multiple myeloma
Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Ninlaro (ixazomib) in combination with two other therapies to treat people with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.
FDA takes several actions involving genetically engineered plants and animals for food
Based on sound science and a comprehensive review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking several important steps today regarding food from genetically engineered (GE) plants and animals, including the first approval for a genetically engineered animal intended for food, AquAdvantage Salmon. The agency is also issuing two guidances for manufacturers who wish to voluntarily label their products as containing ingredients from GE or non-GE sources: a draft guidance on labeling foods derived from Atlantic salmon, and a final guidance on foods derived from GE plants.
FDA moves quickly to approve easy-to-use nasal spray to treat opioid overdose
Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan nasal spray, the first FDA-approved nasal spray version of naloxone hydrochloride, a life-saving medication that can stop or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, as well as the illegal drug heroin.
FDA takes action to protect consumers from potentially dangerous dietary supplements
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in partnership with other government agencies, today announced the results of a yearlong sweep of dietary supplements to identify potentially unsafe or tainted supplements. The sweep resulted in civil injunctions and criminal actions against 117 various manufacturers and/or distributors of dietary supplements and tainted products falsely marketed as dietary supplements. Among the cases announced today is a criminal case charging USPlabs LLC and several of its corporate officers. USPlabs was known for its widely popular workout and weight loss supplements, which it sold under names such as Jack3d and OxyElite Pro.
FDA approves Darzalex for patients with previously treated multiple myeloma
Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for Darzalex (daratumumab) to treat patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior treatments. Darzalex is the first monoclonal antibody approved for treating multiple myeloma.
FDA approves modified antihemophilic factor for hemophilia A
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Adynovate, Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), PEGylated for use in adults and adolescents, aged 12 years and older, who have Hemophilia A. Adynovate is modified to last longer in the blood and potentially require less frequent injections than unmodified Antihemophilic Factor when used to reduce the frequency of bleeding.
FDA orders recall under consent decree for all Custom Ultrasonics automated endoscope reprocessors
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today ordered Custom Ultrasonics to recall all of its automated endoscope reprocessors (AERs) from health care facilities due to the firm’s continued violations of federal law and a Consent Decree entered with the company in 2007. The identified violations could result in an increased risk of infection transmission. FDA ordered this recall under the terms of the Consent Decree. The agency also issued a safety communication today recommending that health care facilities currently using Custom Ultrasonics AERs transition away from their use to alternative methods to reprocess flexible endoscopes as soon as possible.
FDA approves new pill to treat certain patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for an oral medication to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tagrisso (osimertinib) is now approved for patients whose tumors have a specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation (T790M) and whose disease has gotten worse after treatment with other EGFR-blocking therapy.