Generic To Endari Launched
On July 15, 2024, Ani Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of its generic to Endari® (L-glutamine oral powder – Emmaus Medical). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the generic version on July 8, 2024. According to IQVIA, Endari’s annual sales in the U.S. are around $20 million. L-glutamine oral powder is an amino acid that is indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older. The recommended dose is one 5g (one packet) to 15g (three packets) twice daily based on body weight. Patients should mix the prescribed number of packets into eight ounces of cold or room temperature liquid or four to six ounces of food, such as applesauce or yogurt, and take immediately. A link to the prescribing information can be found here.
Voquezna Approved for Non-Erosive GERD
Voquezna® (vonoprazan) received a new indication on July 18, 2024. The potassium-competitive acid blocker is now approved for adults to relieve heartburn symptoms associated with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease, or non-erosive GERD. This condition affects about 45 million U.S. adults and is characterized by reflux-related symptoms without esophageal mucosal erosion. The recommended dose for this use is 10mg once a day for four weeks. Previously, Voquezna was approved to treat all severities of erosive esophagitis (EE) and used with antibiotics to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The updated prescribing information for Voquezna can be found here.