abemaciclib
Verzenio
Pharmaceutical company: Eli Lilly and Company
NEW INDICATION & DOSAGE
Adjuvant treatment for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive, early breast cancer, in combination with endocrine therapy (tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor), in patients at high risk of recurrence and with a Ki-67 score of 20% or more as determined by an FDA-approved test
Adults: 150 mg PO b.i.d. until completion of 2 years of treatment or until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity occurs.
Released: December 2021
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2021 Wolters Kluwer
atezolizumab
Tecentriq
Pharmaceutical company: Genentech
NEW INDICATION & DOSAGE
Adjuvant treatment after resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with stage II to IIIA non–small-cell lung cancer whose tumors express PD-L1, as determined by an FDA-approved test
Adults: 840-mg IV infusion every 2 weeks; or 1,200 mg every 3 weeks; or 1,680 mg every 4 weeks until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity occurs, or up to 1 year.
Released: December 2021
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2021 Wolters Kluwer
cetuximab
Erbitux
Pharmaceutical company: Eli Lilly and Company
NEW INDICATION & DOSAGE
Metastatic colorectal cancer with BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test, after prior therapy, in combination with encorafenib
Adults: Initially, 400 mg/m2 IV infusion over 120 minutes, then 250 mg/m2 IV infusion over 60 minutes weekly with encorafenib 300 mg PO daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. Refer to encorafenib prescribing information.
Released: December 2021
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2021 Wolters Kluwer
dexamethasone ophthalmic insert
Dextenza
Pharmaceutical company: Ocular Therapeutix
NEW FORMULATION
Ophthalmic insert:0.4 mg
INDICATION & DOSAGE
Ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis
Adults: Place a single 0.4-mg insert into lower lacrimal canaliculus.
Released: December 2021
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2021 Wolters Kluwer
evolocumab
Repatha
Pharmaceutical company: Amgen
INDICATION & DOSAGE
Adjunct to diet and other LDL-lowering therapies to reduce LDL cholesterol in children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
Children age 10 and older: 140 mg subcut every 2 weeks or 420 mg subcut once monthly. When switching dosage regimens, give first dose of new regimen on next scheduled date of prior regimen.
Adjunct to other LDL-lowering therapies for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in those who require additional lowering of LDL cholesterol
Adults and children age 10 and older: 420 mg subcut once monthly. May increase dose to 420 mg every 2 weeks if clinically meaningful response isn't achieved in 12 weeks. Patients on lipid apheresis may initiate treatment with 420 mg every 2 weeks given after apheresis session is complete.
Released: December 2021
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2021 Wolters Kluwer
pembrolizumab
Keytruda
Pharmaceutical company: Merck Sharp & Dohme
INDICATION & DOSAGE
Persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer in patients whose tumors express PD-L1, as determined by an FDA-approved test, in combination with chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab
Adults: 200-mg IV infusion every 3 weeks or 400-mg IV infusion every 6 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs, or up to 24 months in patients without disease progression. Give before chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab when given the same day.
Released: December 2021
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2021 Wolters Kluwer