Drugs

Kumbla, Rekha; Figlin, Robert; Posadas, Edwin

doi: 10.1007/s40265-016-0665-1pmid: 27995579

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) historically has had limited treatment options in the metastatic setting but in the last decade, a significant arsenal of new therapies has emerged. Specifically, targeted anti-angiogenic therapies through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibition and immunotherapy through PD-1 inhibition have become the foundation of metastatic RCC treatment increasing not only progression-free survival but also an improved overall survival with improved toxicity profiles compared with older therapies such as IL-2 and interferon. With the development of these newer medications, the optimal sequence and pairing of treatments is not yet well understood but important studies are ongoing as this information will allow for more effective and safe treatment of patients.

Coppen, Emma; Roos, Raymund

doi: 10.1007/s40265-016-0670-4pmid: 27988871

There are currently no effective pharmacological agents available to stop or prevent the progression of Huntington’s disease (HD), a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disorder. In addition to psychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairments, HD causes progressive motor disturbances, in particular choreiform movements, which are characterized by unwanted contractions of the facial muscles, trunk and extremities. Management of choreiform movements is usually advised if chorea interferes with daily functioning, causes social isolation, gait instability, falls, or physical injury. Although drugs to reduce chorea are available, only few randomized controlled studies have assessed the efficacy of these drugs, resulting in a high variety of prescribed drugs in clinical practice. The current pharmacological treatment options to reduce chorea in HD are outlined in this review, including the latest results on deutetrabenazine, a newly developed pharmacological agent similar to tetrabenazine, but with suggested less peak dose side effects. A review of the existing literature was conducted using the PubMed, Cochrane and Medline databases. In conclusion, mainly tetrabenazine, tiapride (in European countries), olanzapine, and risperidone are the preferred first choice drugs to reduce chorea among HD experts. In the existing literature, these drugs also show a beneficial effect on motor symptom severity and improvement of psychiatric symptoms. Generally, it is recommended to start with a low dose and increase the dose with close monitoring of any adverse effects. New interesting agents, such as deutetrabenazine and pridopidine, are currently under development and more randomized controlled trials are warranted to assess the efficacy on chorea severity in HD.

Monte, Suzanne

doi: 10.1007/s40265-016-0674-0pmid: 27988872

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) should be regarded as a degenerative metabolic disease caused by brain insulin resistance and deficiency, and overlapping with the molecular, biochemical, pathophysiological, and metabolic dysfunctions in diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome. Although most of the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches over the past several decades have focused on amyloid-beta (Aβ42) and aberrantly phosphorylated tau, which could be caused by consequences of brain insulin resistance, the broader array of pathologies including white matter atrophy with loss of myelinated fibrils and leukoaraiosis, non-Aβ42 microvascular disease, dysregulated lipid metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, astrocytic gliosis, neuro-inflammation, and loss of synapses vis-à-vis growth of dystrophic neurites, is not readily accounted for by Aβ42 accumulations, but could be explained by dysregulated insulin/IGF-1 signaling with attendant impairments in signal transduction and gene expression. This review covers the diverse range of brain abnormalities in AD and discusses how insulins, incretins, and insulin sensitizers could be utilized to treat at different stages of neurodegeneration.

Brigo, Francesco; Bragazzi, Nicola; Igwe, Stanley; Nardone, Raffaele; Trinka, Eugen

doi: 10.1007/s40265-016-0672-2pmid: 28004305

Garnock-Jones, Karly

doi: 10.1007/s40265-016-0666-0pmid: 27988870

Intravenous dalbavancin (Dalvance®, Xydalba®), first approved as a two-dose regimen for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), has now been additionally approved as a single-dose regimen. This narrative review discusses the pharmacological properties of intravenous dalbavancin and its clinical efficacy and tolerability as a single-dose regimen in the treatment of adult patients with ABSSSI. Single-dose dalbavancin is an effective and generally well tolerated treatment option for adults with ABSSSI, with noninferior efficacy to the two-dose dalbavancin regimen with regard to early clinical response (at 48–72 h) and low rates of adverse events. Clinical success rates at days 14 and 28 also did not significantly differ between the single- and two-dose dalbavancin regimens; neither did clinical success rates at day 14 when analysed by baseline pathogen. It has a broad spectrum of activity against common ABSSSI-related pathogens, and a favourable pharmacokinetic profile allowing for the convenience of single-dose administration. Thus, dalbavancin presents a promising alternative to conventional antibacterials for the treatment of ABSSSI in adult patients.

Lyseng-Williamson, Katherine

doi: 10.1007/s40265-016-0679-8pmid: 27988873

Albutrepenonacog alfa (Idelvion®), a fusion protein that genetically fuses recombinant factor IX (rFIX) with recombinant human albumin (rAlbumin), is indicated in the treatment of haemophilia B. This narrative review discusses the pharmacological properties and clinical data related to the use of this novel fusion protein, hereafter referred to as rIX-FP. The fusion of rFIX to rAlbumin prolongs the elimination half-life of rIX-FP in the circulation, allowing routine prophylaxis to be administered once every 7–14 days. In the pivotal phase 3 clinical trials in previously treated patients with moderately severe to severe haemophilia B, routine rIX-FP prophylaxis (administered once every 7 days in children, and once every 7–14 days in adolescents and adults) was associated with low annualized spontaneous, total and joint bleeding rates, and was associated with significantly fewer bleeding episodes than on-demand treatment. rIX-FP was also effective in controlling bleeding episodes when used as on-demand treatment and in maintaining haemostasis in the perioperative setting. rIX-FP was well tolerated in the clinical trials, with no reports of inhibitor development. In conclusion, rIX-FP provides an effective, well-tolerated option for the treatment and management of haemophilia B that, by virtue of its extended half-life, is less burdensome than conventional FIX products.

Shirley, Matt

doi: 10.1007/s40265-016-0680-2pmid: 27995580

Olaratumab (Lartruvo™) is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeted against the human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor α (PDGFRα). It was developed by Eli Lilly and Co. (previously ImClone Systems) after PDGFRα was identified as a potential therapeutic target in a variety of cancers. Olaratumab acts by selectively binding PDGFRα, thereby blocking PDGF ligand binding and inhibiting PDGFRα activation and downstream signalling. In October 2016, olaratumab received its first global approval, in the USA, for use in combination with doxorubicin for the treatment of adult patients with soft tissue sarcoma. The approval was granted by the US FDA under its Accelerated Approval Program based on the results of the JGDG phase II trial (NCT01185964). In addition, the EMA granted conditional approval for olaratumab in this indication in November 2016 following a review under the EMA’s Accelerated Assessment Program. An international, confirmatory phase III trial in patients with soft tissue sarcoma is ongoing (ANNOUNCE; NCT02451943). Olaratumab has also been investigated in phase II trials in several other cancers. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of olaratumab leading to this first approval, for use in combination with doxorubicin for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma in adults.