New drugs: February/March 2009

Boostrix (combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis [adsorbed] vaccine), GlaxoSmithKline.Indications: For booster vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in individuals four years of age and older. Not intended for primary immunization.Dosage: Single 0.5 mL dose administered by deep intramuscular (IM) injection.Infanrix hexa (combined diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, acellular pertussis, hepatitis B [recombinant], inactivated poliomyelitis, and adsorbed conjugated Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine), GlaxoSmithKline.Indications: Active primary immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio and disease caused by H. influenzae type b in children six weeks to two years of age. Can also be used as a booster vaccination if the infant received a full primary vaccination course of each of the antigens contained in the Infanrix hexa vaccine.Dosage: Primary immunization: Three-dose course of 0.5 mL administered IM at two, four and six months of age. Should not be started until the infant is at least six weeks of age. Booster dose: 0.5 mL administered IM at 18 months of age.Rotarix (human rotavirus, live, attenuated, oral vaccine), GlaxoSmithKline.Indications: Active immunization of infants from the age of six weeks to prevent gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus types G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], G4P[8] and G9P[8].Dosage: Two-dose course. First dose can be administered beginning at the age of six weeks. Should be an interval of at least four weeks between doses (e.g., could administer at age 2 months and 4 months). Administration of both doses should be completed by age 24 weeks.Administration: Vaccine is given orally. Must be reconstituted with supplied diluent prior to administration. There are no restrictions regarding the infant’s intake of food or liquids (including breast milk) before or after administering the vaccine.Volibris (ambrisentan 5 mg and 10 mg tablets), GlaxoSmithKline.Indications: Treatment of idiopathic (primary) pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), as well as PAH associated with connective tissue disease (e.g., scleroderma).Action: Endothelin receptor antagonist. Other oral endothelin receptor antagonists marketed in Canada include bosentan and sitaxsentan.Dosage: Recommended starting dosage is 5 mg once daily, increasing to a maximum of 10 mg/day, if needed and well-tolerated. Can be administered with or without food.Comment: Treatment with ambrisentan should be initiated only by physicians experienced in the management of PAH. Patients must first be seen at a PAH Centre. A list of Canadian PAH Centres is available at the following website address: www.livingwithph.ca/can_med_centres.htm.

New drugs: February/March 2009

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