GLG News by Adolescent Medicine Specialists: Pediatricians

-Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) for kids are big news as traditional MDIs can be hard to use -If the device is easy to use, other meds (like albuterol) might be made available to use this way as well

-Bharat has gotten approval in India to sell 2 vaccinations that are used for children -Approval in India means only that the drugs can be sold and used in India -Although the Indian market is large, there may be many competing approved products already available in India and this has little implication...

-Menactra recently gained approval for children 2-10 years old -Unless the ACIP changes its recommended age for routine use (currently 11), this will have little impact -Most children will only need this in this expanded age range for travel to some parts of the world.

-Avastin has been repackaged by some compounding pharmacies in place of Lucentis for an indication for which Avastin is not approved.  They are both Genentech drugs, but with Lucentis being much more expensive.  -This is a bit like grinding up amoxicillin tablets, making them into a suspension,...

-FluMist indications were just expanded, reducing the minimum age of administration to 2 years old (from 5). -This will make FluMist a desired product (by name) for parents seeking to protect their toddlers and preschoolers from flu but who also desire not to cause pain/crying/suffering. ...

I have long been concerned about this issue - not only for Hep B, but moreover for Varicella, and measles, etc.  It is my prediction that, before the end of my medical career, immunizations will take a greater part in the Family Medicine/Internal Medicine practices, and people will need to receive...

-Rotarix (rotavirus vaccine) has been submitted for approval by Glaxo -Merck's Rotateq has been on the market for over a year now and has contracts with major players already in place -By the time GSK gets marketing approval, it will be a long time before they can convince enough clients to change ...

-Varivax protects 85-90% of chuildren from chickenpox with a single dose; this rises to 96-99% with a second dose.-Virtually all vaccines are given in multiple doses, not solely Varivax-The CDC mandated a second dse of VZV vaccine for 4-year olds last year; the recommendation will expand to older people...

-GSK has submitted Cervarix to the US FDA-It is unclear how long approval may take, or if the FDA will request more data before final consideration, or for what ages it might be approved-Merck's Gardasil continues to gain in first-to-market status as states consider ways to pay for HPV vaccine and contemplate...

- The WHO has embraced the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the developing world- Wyeth's Prevnar 7-valent vaccine for strep pneumo is now a standard of care for use in the US (4 doses for every child under 5)- Expansion of Prevnar's market to the rest of the world, even with price concessions...