Two pancreatic-enzyme products approved

March 2, 2012 in Medications

Two pancreatic-Enzyme products approved

(HealthDay) -- Two drugs that supplement the digestion-aiding actions of pancreatic enzymes have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency said Thursday in a news release.

Ultresa (pancrelipase) was approved for adults and children with and other disorders that affect food digestion because the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes, the FDA said.

The second drug, Viokace (pancrelipase), is to be used in combination with a to treat adults with pancreatitis. This drug's safety and effectiveness have not been established in children, the agency said.

About 200,000 people in the United States have "pancreatic insufficiency" disorders, according to the FDA. The two new medications are the fourth and fifth to be approved for these conditions.

Both new drugs are produced by Aptalis Pharma US, based in Bridgewater, N.J.

More information: Medline Plus has more about pancreatic diseases.

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

4 /5 (1 vote)  

Rank 4 /5 (1 vote)
Related Stories
Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

Merck ends development of Parkinson's disease drug

(AP)—Merck & Co. says it is ending development of an experimental Parkinson's disease drug because the drug wasn't working.

Medications created 20 hours ago | popularity 1 / 5 (1) | comments 0

J&J expects 10-plus new drug applications by 2017

(AP)—Johnson & Johnson is developing what could eventually be game-changing treatments for depression and pain, and it's aiming to apply for approval of more than 10 new medicines by 2017, executives said Thursday during ...

Medications created 21 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Experts favor US approval of Merck sleeping pill (Update)

An independent panel of experts on Wednesday recommended US approval of a new Merck sleeping pill called suvorexant, but expressed concerns over the highest dosage and risks of drowsy daytime driving.

Medications created May 22, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Glaxo, US partnering to develop new antibiotics

GlaxoSmithKline PLC says it's starting an unusual collaboration with the U.S. government to develop several antibiotics for both bioterrorism threats and bacterial infections resistant to current medicines.

Medications created May 22, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Study finds new pneumococcal vaccine appears to be as safe as previously used vaccine

The new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) appears to be as safe as the previous version used prior to 2010, the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), according to a Kaiser Permanente study published ...

Medications created May 22, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


About one in four uninsured could be excluded from ACA

(HealthDay)—More than one in four of those eligible for new premium assistance tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) do not have a checking account and will not be able to receive premiums from ...

Comorbidities common with alopecia areata

(HealthDay)—Comorbid conditions often accompany alopecia areata, according to a study published online May 22 in JAMA Dermatology.

Pollen count apps for smartphones are nothing to sneeze at

Kate O'Reilly's spring allergy survival kit includes the usual stuff - nasal sprays, allergy pills and a box of tissues. This season, she's added a new weapon to her line of defense: an app on her smartphone.

Hormone levels may provide key to understanding psychological disorders in women

Women at a particular stage in their monthly menstrual cycle may be more vulnerable to some of the psychological side-effects associated with stressful experiences, according to a study from UCL.

Engineered cytomegalovirus protects monkeys from HIV equivalent

(Medical Xpress)—A new study by researchers in the US has shown that an ancient virus can be modified to help in the fight against the simian immunodeficiency virus SIV, which is the equivalent in monkeys ...

Going live: Immune cell activation in multiple sclerosis

Biological processes are generally based on events at the molecular and cellular level. To understand what happens in the course of infections, diseases or normal bodily functions, scientists would need to ...