Article Archives - Page 14 of 21

Role of Azithromycin in COVID-19

Azithromycin, an antibiotic with potential antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, has been used to treat COVID-19, but evidence from community randomised trials is lacking.

Azithromycin might increase the pH of the Golgi network and recycling endosome, which could in turn interfere with intracellular SARS-CoV-2 activity and replication. The drug might also reduce levels of the enzyme furin;4 this could interfere with the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to enter cells, as the virus is believed to have a furin-like cleavage site in the spike protein.5 The ability of azithromycin to reduce the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6,6 could reduce the ability of SARS-CoV-2 infection to trigger a cytokine storm, along with associated tissue damage. Furthermore, some patients with viral respiratory illness might develop a secondary bacterial infection or present with a bacterial co-infection, which azithromycin could effectively treat. Azithromycin use in primary care has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

Source: Lancet

Clinic Hours In Article, New Drug

Ublituximab + Ibrutinib for CLL

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a clinically heterogeneous disease associated with several known genetic abnormalities, including 17p deletion (del[17p]), 11q deletion (del[11q]), and TP53 gene mutations, which are adverse prognostic markers among patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy.

The Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib is approved for patients with untreated, relapsed, or refractory disease, including those with del(17p). Clinicians will soon have the chance to pair it with ublituximab, a next-generation, glycoengineered, type I, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that binds to a unique epitope on CD20, differentiating it from rituximab, ofatumumab, and obinutuzumab. Results from the phase 3 GENUINE trial, which were recently published in The Lancet Haematology, showed that ublituximab plus ibrutinib was superior to ibrutinib alone for patients with relapsed or refractory high-risk CLL.

Source: Medscape

Clinic Hours In Article, FDA Updates

FDA approves oral contraceptive with new estrogen

The novel combined oral contraceptive, marketed as Nextstellis, contains 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP) and 14.2 mg of estetrol (E4) in tablet form. Estetrol is an estrogen that is naturally produced during pregnancy, but will now be produced from a plant source; it has not previously been used in oral contraceptives.

Source: FDA

Clinic Hours In Article

New benznidazole treatment regimen for Chagas Disease shows promise

For treatment of Chagas disease, benznidazole can be taken for a shorter period of time and at lower doses with similar efficacy to the current standard regimen and is much more tolerable, a new study suggests.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in Latin America, where an estimated 5.7 million people are infected.

Benznidazole is a highly effective antiparasitic treatment for Chagas disease but side effects with the standard dose and long duration of treatment (300 mg daily for eight weeks) lead many patients to stop treatment.

The current study found that a reduced dose and shorter course of benznidazole is effective in patients with chronic indeterminate Chagas disease, with clearance of parasitemia and decrease in lytic antibody titers, with superior safety.

The BENDITA trial included 210 adults from Bolivia with chronic indeterminate Chagas disease, confirmed by serological testing and positive qualitative PCR results.

Source: Medscape

Clinic Hours In 1 min, Article

Antibiotics in development not enough to tackle superbugs: WHO

None of the 43 antibiotics currently in development as well as recently approved medicines are enough to combat the increasing emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, the World Health Organization cautioned.

Drug resistance is driven by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobials, which encourages bacteria to evolve into “superbugs” and find new ways to beat the medicines. Previous studies have estimated AMR will kill tens of millions of people every year after 2050.

Out of the 43 antibiotics in development, the WHO said 26 drugs target the 13 most dangerous “superbugs”. But the health agency said most of these antibiotics are derivatives of existing classes, which could result in “rapid emergence of drug-resistance.”

Source: WHO

Clinic Hours In Article, COVID-19

What is the role of the antiviral drug remdesivir in the treatment of COVID-19?

Remdesivir was the first drug approved by the FDA for treating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is indicated for treatment of COVID-19 disease in hospitalized adults and children aged 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kg. The broad-spectrum antiviral is a nucleotide analog prodrug.

Dosage:

Day 1 loading dose: 200 mg IV infused over 30-120 min, THEN
Day 2 to 5: 100 mg IV qDay

Adverse Effects:

>10% eGFR decreased* (18%)
Decreased CrCl* (calculated by Cockcroft-Gault) (10-18%)
Creatinine increased* (5-15%)
Hemoglobin decreased* (6-15%)
Glucose increased* (11-12%)
Lymphocytes decreased* (11%)
1-10%
Prothrombin time increased (9%)
ALT increased* (3-8%)
AST increased* (6-7%)
Nausea (3-5%)
Bilirubin increased* (2%)
Hypersensitivity reactions (<2%)
Generalized seizure (<2%)
Rash (<2%)

Storage:

Lyophilized powder

Unopened vial: Store <30ºC (<86ºF)
Reconstituted vial: Use reconstituted product immediately to prepare diluted solution
Diluted solution: Stable for 24 hr at 20-25ºC (68-77ºF) or 48 hr refrigerated at temperature 2-8ºC (36-46ºF)

Solution for injection:

Unopened vial: Refrigerate at 2-8ºC (36-46ºF); may store at room temperature up to 12 hr before dilution.
Diluted solution: Stable for 24 hr at 20-25ºC (68-77ºF) or 48 hr refrigerated at temperature 2-8ºC (36-46ºF)

Clinic Hours In Article, COVID-19

Brazil P1 coronavirus variant mutating is more dangerous

Brazil’s P1 coronavirus variant, behind a deadly COVID-19 surge in the Latin American country that has raised international alarm, is mutating in ways that could make it better able to evade antibodies, according to scientists studying the virus. Studies have shown the P1 variant to be as much as 2.5 times more contagious than the original coronavirus and more resistant to antibodies.

Source: Medscape

Clinic Hours In Article, FDA Updates

FDA approves first AI device to detect colon lesions

The US FDA announced its first-ever approval of an artificial intelligence device to help find colon lesions during colonoscopy.

The GI Genius (Cosmo Artificial Intelligence) identifies areas of the colon where a colorectal polyp or tumor might be located. Clinicians then follow up with a closer examination and possible treatment.

The GI Genius consists of both hardware and software designed to work with an endoscope. It uses machine learning to recognize possible polyps during a colonoscopy. It marks these areas with green squares on the video generated by the endoscope’s camera and emits a short, low-volume sound. Clinicians decide if a lesion is truly present and whether to sample or remove such a lesion.

The device does not diagnose the lesions or recommend treatments and is not intended to take the place of laboratory sampling

The FDA based its approval on a trial in which 700 people 40-80 years of age underwent colonoscopies for colorectal cancer screening, surveillance, follow-up from positive results of a fecal occult blood test, or gastrointestinal symptoms of possible colon cancer.

Of these participants, 263 were being screened or surveilled every 3 years or more. The researchers randomly divided them into a group of 136 who underwent white-light standard colonoscopy with the GI Genius, and 127 who underwent white-light standard colonoscopy without the GI Genius.

Using the GI Genius, clinicians identified adenomas or carcinomas that were later confirmed through lab results in 55.1% of patients. Without the GI Genius, the clinicians identified such lesions in 42.0% of patients.

The patients examined with the GI Genius received more biopsies, including slightly more that were not adenomas. But the biopsies did not lead to any adverse events such as perforations, infections, bleeding, or further biopsies.

Source: FDA

Clinic Hours In Article, COVID-19

Reactive Infectious Mucocutaneous Eruption associated with COVID-19

Formerly known as Mycoplasma-induced rash and mucositis, RIME has arisen as the preferred terminology to include mucocutaneous eruptions that are caused by other infectious agents. RIME secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection, details its resolution with systemic steroids, and notes the potential for recurrence with subsequent milder symptoms, as has been previously reported. The combination of anosmia and ageusia, multiple positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests, and no other identified contemporaneous infections (the elevated Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgG titer with low IgM titer and negative nasopharyngeal PCR likely indicated prior exposure) suggests SARS-CoV-2 as the infectious trigger. The sparse cutaneous involvement and lack of dusky targetoid lesions also distinguish RIME from Stevens-Johnson syndrome and erythema multiforme (which has been described in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection).

Furthermore, RIME can be distinguished from the newly described multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, which is associated with Kawasaki disease–like features, including mucocutaneous involvement, systemic symptoms, and dramatically elevated systemic inflammatory markers.

Initial Presentation 3 Days After Onset of Mucocutaneous Symptoms and 1 Week After Initial Anosmia and Ageusia

Source: JAMA

Clinic Hours In Article

Volanesorsen shows promise in Multifactorial Chylomicronemia

Volanesorsen significantly reduces triglyceride levels in patients with multifactorial chylomicronemia syndrome and may reduce acute pancreatitis events in these patients, according to results of the COMPASS trial.

In an earlier study, the researchers found that lowering hepatic apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3) synthesis with the antisense oligonucleotide volanesorsen effectively lowered triglycerides in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

The COMPASS phase-3 study explored the safety and efficacy of volanesorsen in patients with multifactorial chylomicronemia syndrome, also known as multifactorial severe hypertriglyceridemia.

COMPASS included 113 patients with multifactorial severe hypertriglyceridemia or familial chylomicronemia syndrome, who had a BMI of 45 kg/m2 or less and fasting plasma triglyceride of 500 mg/dL or higher.

By random assignment, 76 patients received subcutaneous volanesorsen (300 mg) once a week for 26 weeks and 38 received a matched volume of placebo. After 13 weeks of treatment, dosing was changed to 300 mg of volanesorsen or placebo every two weeks, except in patients who had completed at least five months of treatment.

The efficacy of treatment was independent of the type of genetic variants impairing lipoprotein lipase activity, which is a new finding that reinforces the notion that volanesorsen operates via lipoprotein lipase-independent mechanisms – eg, by inhibiting the production of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Source: Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology