Atracurium Besylate and Rucaparib Camsylate

• Generic Name: atracurium
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

Production of skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery after general anesthesia has been induced.

Facilitation of endotracheal intubation; however, a neuromuscular blocking agent with a rapid onset of action (e.g., succinylcholine, rocuronium) generally preferred in emergency situations when rapid intubation is required.

Also has been used to facilitate mechanical ventilation in the ICU. Has been given as a continuous IV infusion for up to 10 days in this setting. Whenever neuromuscular blocking agents are used in the ICU, consider benefits versus risks of such therapy and assess patients frequently to determine need for continued paralysis. (See Intensive Care Setting under Cautions.)

Compared with other neuromuscular blocking agents, atracurium has an intermediate onset and duration of action; exhibits minimal cardiovascular effects; and has minimal, if any, cumulative effects. Because elimination is not dependent on renal or hepatic pathways, may be particularly useful in patients with hepatic or renal dysfunction.

• Generic Name: rucaparib
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Rubraca

Single-agent therapy for the treatment of deleterious germline and/or somatic BRCA-mutated (as detected by an FDA-approved companion diagnostic test [FoundationFocus CDx BRCA]) advanced ovarian cancer previously treated with ≥2 chemotherapy regimens (designated an orphan drug by FDA for this use). Subgroup analysis suggests overall response rate is higher in patients with platinum-sensitive disease than in those with platinum-resistant disease (66 versus 25%); no responses observed in a limited number of patients with platinum-refractory disease.

Accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval may be contingent on verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory studies.

Women with mutations that result in defective BRCA genes are more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Approximately 10–15% of all cases of ovarian cancer appear to be associated with these hereditary BRCA mutations.