The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7303 p737
12 June 2004

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Products

Prescription Products
• Striant
SPC changes
• Enbrel injection
• Protopic ointment
Discontinued products
• Bretylium tosylate
Products miscellany
• Fuzeon
• Rebif injection device

DRUG ALERT Mercaptamine/mercaptopurine confusion

Prescription Products

Striant
Striant (testosterone) mucoadhesive buccal tablets have been launched (Ardana); net price, 60 £45.84. Each tablet contains 30mg testosterone in a bioadhesive matrix. The company says Striant is the first such product to be launched for testosterone replacement therapy for men with primary or secondary hypogonadism.

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SPC changes

Enbrel injection
Enbrel (etanercept) is now licensed to be used in combination with methotrexate (Wyeth). The amended summary of product characteristics states that it can be used alone or in combination with methotrexate for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis in adults when the response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, including methotrexate (unless contraindicated), has been inadequate. See SPC.

Protopic ointment
Dosage instructions for Protopic (tacrolimus) ointment have been updated. When used in adults, the recommendation now is that treatment should be started with Protopic 0.1 per cent twice a day and continued until clearance of the lesion. If symptoms recur, twice daily treatment with Protopic 0.1 per cent should be restarted. An attempt should be made to reduce the frequency of application or to use the lower strength Protopic 0.03 per cent ointment if the clinical condition allows. There is no change to how the drug should be used in children. Data from new clinical trials have been included. See SPC.

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Discontinued products

Bretylium tosylate
Bretylium tosylate injection Minijet 50mg/ml is to be discontinued owing to difficulties in obtaining the active material (International Medication Systems UK). Current stocks are expected to be exhausted by the end of July.

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Products miscellany

Fuzeon
Roche has introduced new safety guard syringes into the convenience kit for Fuzeon (enfuvirtide). The company says the new syringes are easy to use and will continue to provide protection against needle stick injury. They replace the previously available retractable safety syringes.

Rebif injection device
Serono has launched the Rebiject II auto-injector, a device for self-injection of Rebif (interferon beta-1a). The device is intended to make self-injection less painful and less complex for patients. It is designed for use specifically with the Rebif pre-filled syringe. Serono says that the device will be supplied at no extra charge to patients being prescribed Rebif.

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