The FDA has approved Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ Valturna (aliskiren and valsartan) tablets, the first and only medicine to target two key points within the renin system. Also known as the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), it is an important regulator of blood pressure. Valturna is to be used for the treatment of high blood pressure in patients not adequately controlled on aliskiren or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) monotherapy and as initial therapy in patients likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their blood pressure goals.

Drug developer Novartis received the FDA approval for its Valturna drug for the treatment of high blood pressure. The drug is a single-pill combination of valsartan and aliskiren. While Valsartan is the active ingredient in Novartis’ high blood pressure drug Diovan, aliskiren is the active ingredient in the company’s blood pressure drug Tekturna.

Meda Pharmaceuticals Inc has received the FDA approval for ASTEPRO(R) (azelastine HCl) Nasal Spray 0.15% for the treatment of the symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (SAR and PAR). ASTEPRO is the first nasal antihistamine to offer convenient once-daily dosing for patients who suffer from seasonal allergies. ASTEPRO relieves rhinitis symptoms, including nasal congestion, without an added decongestant such as pseudoephedrine. It is formulated with azelastine, a leading nasal antihistamine in the treatment of seasonal rhinitis in the US. The product will be available in pharmacies by early October 2009.

The health experts at the FDA have given their approval for Folotyn (pralatrexate), an experimental cancer drug from Allos Therapeutics Inc for the treatment of patients with a rare form of cancer, such as, relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Allos, a Westminster, Colorado-based pharmaceutical company is seeking accelerated approval for its new drug for treating a number of aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHLs).