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New Products
- Ripretinib (Qinlock) is a switch-control tyrosine kinase inhibitor that binds to both the switch pocket and the activation loop to lock the kinase in the inactive state, preventing downstream signalling and cell proliferation. This dual mechanism of action provides broad inhibition of KIT and PDGFRA kinase activity, including wild type and multiple primary and secondary mutations. Ripretinib also inhibits other kinases in vitro, such as PDGFRB, TIE2, VEGFR2, and BRAF. Qinlock is indicated for the treatment of adults with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) who have received prior treatment with 3 or more kinase inhibitors, including imatinib. Qinlock tablets contain ripretinib 50 mg and is available in a pack size of 90.
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New Indications
- Durvalumab (rch) (Imfinzi), in combination with etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin, is now indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).
- Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) is now indicated for the treatment of adults with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL/SLL) in combination with rituximab.
- Pembrolizumab (rch) (Keytruda) is now indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that is microsatellite instability-high (MSI‑H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) as determined by a validated test. It is also indicated in adult and paediatric patients for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic solid tumours that are MSI‑H or dMMR as determined by a validated test, that have progressed following prior treatment and when there are no satisfactory alternative treatment options. The safety and effectiveness of Keytruda in paediatric patients with MSI-H/dMMR central nervous system cancers have not been established.
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New Contraindications
- Measles, mumps and rubella live virus vaccine (M-M-R II) should not be given to pregnant females. If vaccination of post-pubertal females is undertaken for protection against rubella, pregnancy should be avoided for one month following vaccination.
- Metronidazole (Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion (Pfizer)) is now contraindicated in patients who have taken disulfiram within the previous two weeks; and with concomitant consumption of alcohol or products containing propylene glycol (or within three days after therapy with metronidazole).
- Monobasic sodium phosphate/dibasic sodium phosphate (Phospho-Soda) is now contraindicated in children under 18 years of age, and should not be used in combination with other laxative products containing sodium phosphate.
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This list is a summary of only some of the changes that have occurred over the last month.
Before prescribing, always refer to the full product information.
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