Off-Label Use

Eli Lilly and Co. released an open letter stating its tirzepatide products should not be used for cosmetic weight loss and warning the public about the circulation of compounded and counterfeit tirzepatide.

Antipsychotic use has declined among young children, but clinicians continue to prescribe them off-label for conditions not approved by the FDA, researchers found.

Myopia progression is a hot topic in pediatric ophthalmology, whether the treating physician uses atropine, surgical procedures or contact lenses.

MAUI, HAWAII — Dermatologists who visit the website for Dupixent may be inclined to believe the monoclonal antibody only treats atopic dermatitis, asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis. Similarly, a glance at Stelara’s website may prompt readers to think it only treats Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Eculizumab, which is only approved by the FDA for the treatment of three rare conditions, may be used frequently for off-label indications that lack strong scientific evidence, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

During a recent 10-year period, physicians in the United States ordered at least one off-label systemic drug in nearly 19% of pediatric ambulatory care visits, and around 75% of the orders were for unapproved conditions, according to findings published in Pediatrics. This trend contradicts recent efforts to increase evidence and drug approvals for children, researchers noted.

ORLANDO — Treatment of pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis with medications available to their adult counterparts is often blocked by exclusions in insurance policies and outdated step therapy requirements, according to a presentation at the Rheumatology Nurses Society Annual Conference.