FDA Drug Approvals

The following drugs have recently been approved by the FDA. Includes newly approved drugs and new indications for drugs already approved.

See also: Generic Approvals, New Drug Applications, Recent Additions to Drugs.com, Approval Process, New Indications and Dosage forms

Latest New Drug Approvals


Xenazine (tetrabenazine)

Date of Approval: August 15, 2008

Company: Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Treatment for: Huntington’s Chorea

Xenazine (tetrabenazine) is a selective and reversible centrally-acting dopamine depleting drug indicated for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease.


Cleviprex (clevidipine butyrate) Injectable Emulsion

Date of Approval: August 1, 2008

Company: The Medicines Company

Treatment for: Hypertension

Cleviprex is an intravenous, ultrashort-acting calcium channel blocker under development for the treatment of severely elevated blood pressure in the hospital setting when oral therapy is not feasible or desirable.


Cardene (nicardipine)

Date of Approval: December 21, 1988

Company: EKR Therapeutics, Inc.

Treatment for: Hypertension, Angina Pectoris

Cardene (nicardipine) is a calcium channel blocker for the treatment of hypertension and angina.


Stavzor (valproic acid) Capsules

Date of Approval: July 29, 2008

Company: Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Treatment for: Bipolar Disorder, Seizures, Epilepsy, Migraine Prophylaxis

Stavzor is delayed-release valproic acid formulated in the EnteriCare enteric soft gelatin capsule delivery system designed to minimize GI adverse events. Stavzor is indicated for the treatment of manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, adjunctive therapy in multiple seizure types (including epilepsy), and prophylaxis of migraine headaches.


Navstel (balanced salt ophthalmic solution with hypromellose, dextrose and glutathione) Intraocular Irrigating Solution

Date of Approval: July 24, 2008

Company: Alcon Laboratories, Inc.

Treatment for: Intraocular Irrigation

Navstel is a balanced salt ophthalmic solution for use as an intraocular irrigation during surgical procedures involving perfusion of the eye.


Eovist (gadoxetate disodium)

Date of Approval: July 3, 2008

Company: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Treatment for: Diagnostic

Eovist (gadoxetate disodium) is a gadolinium-based contrast agent for intravenous use in T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver to detect and characterize lesions in adults with known or suspected focal liver disease.


Evolence (dermal filler)

Date of Approval: June 27, 2008

Company: OrthoNeutrogena

Treatment for: Facial Wrinkles

Evolence is a collagen-based structural dermal filler for the correction of moderate to deep facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.


Metvixia (methyl aminolevulinate hydrochloride) Cream

Date of Approval: July 27, 2004

Company: PhotoCure ASA

Treatment for: Keratosis

Metvixia is a non-invasive treatment which combines the local application of cream and illumination with a proprietary red light source (CureLight/Aktilite) to activate the drug for the photodynamic treatment of sun-induced pre-cancerous skin lesions (actinic keratosis).


Kinrix (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine)

Date of Approval: June 24, 2008

Company: GlaxoSmithKline

Treatment for: Diphtheria Prophylaxis, Tetanus Prophylaxis, Poliomyelitis Prophylaxis, Pertussis Prophylaxis

Kinrix [Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed and Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine] is a combination vaccine for protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio diseases in children.


Durezol (difluprednate) Ophthalmic Emulsion

Date of Approval: June 23, 2008

Company: Sirion Therapeutics, Inc.

Treatment for: Postoperative Ocular Inflammation

Durezol (difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion) is a topical steroid for the treatment of postoperative ocular inflammation and pain.


PrandiMet (repaglinide and metformin) Tablets

Date of Approval: June 23, 2008

Company: Sciele Pharma, Inc. and Novo Nordisk Inc.

Treatment for: Diabetes Mellitus Type II

PrandiMet (repaglinide and metformin HCl) is a fixed-dose combination of the fast-acting secretagogue replaglinide (also known as Prandin) and insulin sensitizer, metformin, indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.


Pentacel (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed, Inactivated Poliovirus and Haemophilus b Conjugate (Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate) Vaccine)

Date of Approval: June 20, 2008

Company: Sanofi pasteur

Treatment for: Pertussis Prophylaxis, Tetanus Prophylaxis, Diphtheria Prophylaxis, Poliomyelitis Prophylaxis, Haemophilus influenzae Prophylaxis

Pentacel is a combination vaccine indicated for active immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis and invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae type b in children 6 weeks through 4 years of age.


Trivaris (triamcinolone acetonide) Intravitreal Injection

Date of Approval: June 16, 2008

Company: Allergan, Inc.

Treatment for: Ocular Inflammatory Conditions

Trivaris (triamcinolone acetonide) is a glucocorticoid corticosteroid delivered via intravitreal injection for the treatment of sympathetic ophthalmia, temporal arteritis, uveitis, and ocular inflammatory conditions unresponsive to topical corticosteroids.


Entereg (alvimopan) Capsules

Date of Approval: May 20, 2008

Company: Adolor Corporation

Treatment for: Postoperative Ileus

Entereg (alvimopan) is a peripherally-acting mu opioid receptor antagonist used to help patients regain gastrointestinal (GI) function earlier following bowel resection surgery.


OraVerse (phentolamine mesylate) Injection

Date of Approval: May 9, 2008

Company: Novalar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Treatment for: Reversal of Anesthesia

OraVerse is a dental anesthetic reversal agent that accelerates the return to normal sensation and function following dental procedures.


Relistor (methylnaltrexone bromide) Subcutaneous Injection

Date of Approval: April 25, 2008

Company: Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals

Treatment for: Opioid-Induced Constipation

Relistor is a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist indicated to treat opioid-induced constipation.


Aplenzin (bupropion hydrobromide) Extended-Release Tablets - formerly BVF-033

Date of Approval: April 23, 2008

Company: Biovail Corporation

Treatment for: Depression

Aplenzin is a once-daily formulation of bupropion hydrobromide indicated for the treatment of depression in adults.


Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) Injection

Date of Approval: April 22, 2008

Company: UCB, Inc.

Treatment for: Crohn's Disease -- Acute

Cimzia is a PEGylated anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) biologic therapy for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease in adults.


Treximet (sumatriptan succinate and naproxen sodium) Tablets - formerly Trexima

Date of Approval: April 15, 2008

Company: Pozen Inc.

Treatment for: Migraine

Treximet is a combination of sumatriptan (a migraine-specific triptan) and naproxen (an anti-inflammatory pain reliever) in a single tablet for the acute treatment of migraine.


Patanase (olopatadine hydrochloride) Nasal Spray

Date of Approval: April 15, 2008

Company: Alcon, Inc.

Treatment for: Allergic Rhinitis

Patanase (olopatadine) is an antihistamine nasal spray for the treatment of symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and adolescents twelve years of age and older.

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