New Drug Approvals Archive - July 2015

July 2015

Orkambi (ivacaftor and lumacaftor) Tablets and Oral Granules

Date of Approval: July 2, 2015
Company: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Treatment for: Cystic Fibrosis

Orkambi (ivacaftor and lumacaftor) is a CFTR potentiator and CFTR corrector combination for the treatment of the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis in patients 2 years and older with two copies of the F508del mutation in their CFTR gene.

Entresto (sacubitril and valsartan) Tablets - formerly LCZ696

Date of Approval: July 7, 2015
Company: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Treatment for: Heart Failure

Entresto (sacubitril and valsartan) is a neprilysin inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor blocker combination indicated to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in patients with chronic heart failure.

Rexulti (brexpiprazole) Tablets

Date of Approval: July 10, 2015
Company: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and H. Lundbeck A/S
Treatment for: Schizophrenia; Major Depressive Disorder

Rexulti (brexpiprazole) is a serotonin-dopamine activity modulator (SDAM) for the treatment of schizophrenia and the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder.

Envarsus XR (tacrolimus) Extended-Release Tablets

Date of Approval: July 10, 2015
Company: Veloxis Pharmaceuticals A/S
Treatment for: Organ Transplant -- Rejection Prophylaxis

Envarsus XR (tacrolimus) is a once-daily extended-release immunosuppressant for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in kidney transplant patients.

Epiduo Forte (adapalene and benzoyl peroxide) Topical Gel

Date of Approval: July 15, 2015
Company: Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
Treatment for: Acne

Epiduo Forte (adapalene and benzoyl peroxide) gel is a topical retinoid and benzoyl peroxide combination indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.

Technivie (ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir) Tablets

Date of Approval: July 24, 2015
Company: AbbVie Inc.
Treatment for: Chronic Hepatitis C

Technivie (ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir) is an NS5A inhibitor, NS3/4A protease inhibitor, and CYP3A inhibitor fixed-dose combination indicated for use in combination with ribavirin for the treatment of patients with genotype 4 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Odomzo (sonidegib) Capsules

Date of Approval: July 24, 2015
Company: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Treatment for: Basal Cell Carcinoma

Odomzo (sonidegib) is a hedgehog pathway inhibitor indicated for the treatment of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

Praluent (alirocumab) Injection

Date of Approval: July 24, 2015
Company: Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Treatment for: High Cholesterol

Praluent (alirocumab) is a PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) inhibitor monoclonal antibody for the treatment of patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerotic heart disease who require additional lowering of LDL-cholesterol.

Daklinza (daclatasvir) Tablets

Date of Approval: July 24, 2015
Company: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Treatment for: Chronic Hepatitis C

Daklinza (daclatasvir) is an NS5A inhibitor indicated for use in combination with sofosbuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 or genotype 3 infection.