By: Sang Hyo Kim, Section Editor – On April 28, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved aripiprazole, the generic of Abilify®.1 Aripiprazole tablets are used to treat patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.1 Although Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Abilify®, tried to block generic competition by requesting a temporary restraining order on one…

By: Andrew Leong, Staff Writer – Quitting smoking greatly reduces the risk of many diseases such as lung cancer, coronary heart disease, and stroke, all of which increase morbidity and mortality in patients. Currently in North America, there are three main pharmacological therapies used in the management of smoking cessation. The most recognizable one, nicotine…

By: Azia Tariq, Section Editor – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TissuGlu®, the first tissue adhesive approved for internal use. William Maisel, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Director of Science at FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health states, “The FDA’s approval of the first synthetic adhesive for internal use will help some…

By: Sylva Ohanian, Staff Writer – The FDA recently approved aflibercept (Eylea®) injection for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).1 Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is generally characterized by changes occurring in the…