The FDA has approved Exalgo (hydromorphone HCl extended-release tablets, from Covidien) for the management of moderate to severe pain in opioid-tolerant patients requiring continuous, around-the-clock opioid analgesia for an extended period of time.

Canyon Pharmaceuticals announced that Iprivask (desirudin for injection), a direct thrombin inhibitor, has been made available for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may lead to pulmonary embolism, in patients undergoing elective hip replacement surgery.

Acorda Therapeutics has made available Ampyra (dalfampridine extended-release tablets) as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Mission Pharmacal has expanded its CitraNatal product line with the addition of CitraNatal B-Calm prenatal vitamins.

Shire announced that Vpriv (velaglucerase alfa for injection) has been FDA approved and made available for the treatment of Type 1 Gaucher disease.

Fougera has announced that the FDA has approved a generic imiquimod cream 5%, the equivalent to Aldara (from Graceway Pharmaceuticals).

Fera Pharmaceuticals announced that erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is now available in a 3.5g package size in addition to the 1g unit-dose tubes that were already available.

The FDA has approved Wyeth's Prevnar 13 (pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine) for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease and otitis media in children 6 weeks through 5 years of age.

The FDA has approved Cayston (aztreonam for inhalation solution, from Gilead Sciences) as a treatment to improve respiratory symptoms in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Novartis announced that the FDA has approved Menveo (meningococcal [Groups A, C, Y, W-135] oligosaccharide diphtheria CRM197 conjugate vaccine) for the active immunization against invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 in people 11-55 years of age.