The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7292 p379
27 March 2004

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Products

Prescription Products
• Zevalin
• Advate
• Lisinopril tablets
• Pharmorubicin
• Paracetamol caplets
SPC changes
• Somatuline LA
Discontinued products
• Lilly insulins
• Ossopan
Supply issues
• Pentacarinat
• Measles, mumps and rubella single vaccines
Products miscellany
• FreeStyle Mini

Prescription Products

Zevalin
Composition: ibritumomab tiuxetan 1.6mg/ml.
Presentation: kit for radiopharmaceutical preparation for infusion (the final formulation after radiolabelling contains 2.08mg ibritumomab tiuxetan in a total volume of 10ml).
Class: monoclonal antibody attached to a radioisotope.
Indications: treatment of adult patients with rituximab-relapsed or refractory CD20-positive follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Dosage: An intravenous infusion of rituximab 250mg/m² on day 1, followed on day 8 by another infusion of rituximab 250mg/m² shortly before a 10-minute intravenous infusion of radiolabelled Zevalin (dose based on body weight and platelet count before treatment). See SPC.
Major cautions: should only be handled and administered by personnel with authorisation for the use of radionuclides within a designated clinical setting. Zevalin should be used following pre-treatment with rituximab. Do not use as an intravenous bolus.
Contraindications: pregnancy and lactation. See SPC.
Side effects: the radiation dose may result in secondary malignancies and in development of hereditary defects. The majority of patients are expected to experience adverse reactions. See SPC.
Legal category: POM
Net price: 1 kit containing 3.2mg ibritumomab tiuxetan, £7,250.
Contact details: Schering Health Care, tel 01444 232323.

Advate
Advate (octocog alfa [recombinant human coagulation factor VIII produced by recombinant DNA technology in Chinese hamster ovary cells]) solution for injection is now available from Baxter Bioscience. The company says Advate is the first and only factor VIII therapy made without the addition of any human or animal proteins during the manufacturing stage. Net price, 250 IU £205, 500 IU £410, 1,000 IU £820, 1,500 IU £1,230. Legal category: POM

Lisinopril tablets
Lisinopril tablets are now available from Almus Pharmaceuticals; net price 2.5mg 28 £3.75, 5mg 28 £4.95, 10mg 28 £6.77, 20mg 28 £7.50.

Pharmorubicin
Pharmorubicin (epirubicin) solution for injection Cytosafe 200mg/100ml is now available from Pfizer; net price, 100ml vial £386.16.

Paracetamol caplets
Paracetamol caplets 500mg x 32 are now available from Alpharma; net price 36p.

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SPC changes

Somatuline LA
Somatuline LA (lanreotide) is now additionally indicated for the treatment of thyrotrophic adenomas when the circulating level of thyroid stimulating hormone remains inappropriately high after surgery and/or radiotherapy (Ipsen). See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Lilly insulins
Humulin M2 (biphasic isophane insulin) cartridges will be discontinued at the end of April (Lilly). Humulin Lente and Humulin Zn vials (insulin zinc suspension) and Humulin M5 (biphasic isophane insulin) vials will be discontinued at the end of July. A diabetes care line has been set up to answer any questions from health care professionals or patients (tel 0800 783 6764).

Ossopan
Ossopan (hydroxyapatite) tablets and granules are being discontinued with immediate effect (Sanofi-Synthelabo).

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Supply issues

Pentacarinat
Distriphar says that the only available stock of Pentacarinat (pentamidine isetionate) ready-to-use nebuliser solution has a shelf life of less than six months. The company asks customers to accept the short-dated product. Queries should be directed to Distriphar customer services on 0870 513 3347.

Measles, mumps and rubella single vaccines
IDIS says that it will not be able to fulfil current orders or take any further orders for single component vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, owing to pharmaceutical companies either no longer manufacturing or exporting the products.

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Products miscellany

FreeStyle Mini
FreeStyle Mini blood glucose monitors have been launched by Therasense. The company claims that it is the smallest blood glucose monitor in the world. Recommended retail price £18.

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