Drugs
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Omadacycline is a novel aminomethylcycline antibiotic developed as a once-daily, intravenous and oral treatment for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). Omadacycline, a derivative of minocycline, has a chemical structure similar to tigecycline with an alkylaminomethyl group replacing the glycylamido group at the C-9 position of the D-ring of the tetracycline core. Similar to other tetracyclines, omadacycline inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit. ⋯ Based on clinical trial data to date, the adverse effect profile of omadacycline is similar to studied comparators, linezolid and moxifloxacin. Unlike tigecycline and eravacycline, omadacycline has an oral formulation that allows for step-down therapy from the intravenous formulation, potentially facilitating earlier hospital discharge, outpatient therapy, and cost savings. Omadacycline has a potential role as part of an antimicrobial stewardship program in the treatment of patients with infections caused by antibiotic-resistant and multidrug-resistant Gram-positive [including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)] and Gram-negative pathogens.
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Methadone continues to be an important medication for the treatment of paediatric and adult cancer-related pain. Appropriate patient selection to ensure safe and effective treatment by a team of clinicians who appreciate and are familiar with methadone and its unique pharmacology is crucial. Unlike morphine and other more common opioids, methadone is purported to have involvement with delta-opioid receptor and higher affinity as an N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor antagonist. ⋯ Recent guidelines recommend electrocardiogram monitoring with methadone and there is potential for additive cardiac toxicity in the oncology setting. Appropriate dosing of methadone for pain management given age, organ dysfunction, and patients who are on methadone maintenance therapy are also key factors. This article aims to provide clinicians with evidence and clinical practice guidelines for safe and appropriate use of methadone including indication, initiation, and monitoring given its complexity for management of pain in the dynamic oncology setting.
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For over two decades, dramatic increases in opioid prescriptions in the developed world, especially for long-term management of chronic noncancer pain, were accompanied by increases in patient harm. In recent years in the USA, opioid-related deaths rates have continued to increase despite falls in prescribing rates and deaths associated with prescription opioids. In large part, this is attributed to the growing availability of illicitly manufactured fentanyl. ⋯ Importantly, compared with opioid-naïve patients, opioid-tolerant patients may be at higher risk of opioid-induced ventilatory impairment when additional opioids are administered to manage new acute pain. For some patients, perioperative care may be best coordinated by a perioperative or post-discharge service with referral to multidisciplinary pain and addiction medicine services as indicated. Carefully planned and communicated discharge prescribing, with a weaning plan for additional opioids, is essential.
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Crizanlizumab (Adakveo®; crizanlizumab-tmca) is an intravenously administered monoclonal antibody developed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals for the prevention of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in patients with sickle cell disease. Crizanlizumab binds to P-selectin, thereby blocking its interaction with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1. ⋯ The use of crizanlizumab (in combination with ruxolitinib) in myelofibrosis is also being evaluated in Australia, Spain, Germany and Hungary. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of crizanlizumab leading to this first approval for the reduction of VOCs in patients with sickle cell disease.
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The treatment landscape for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma has broadened significantly over recent years. New therapeutic options include immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy with erdafitinib. Despite these advances, gaps remain in the selection and sequencing of optimal therapies. ⋯ As a result, a biologics license application was submitted to the US FDA in July 2019. Ongoing clinical trials are aiming to further establish the role of enfortumab vedotin in urothelial carcinoma. In this article, we highlight the safety and efficacy of enfortumab vedotin for patients with advanced bladder cancer, ongoing clinical trials, clinical pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics.