Ropivacaine (Naropin) is the pure S(-)-enantiomer of propivacaine, and is a long-acting amide local anaesthetic agent, eliciting nerve block via reversible inhibition of sodium ion influx in nerve fibres. Ropivacaine is a well tolerated regional anaesthetic effective for surgical anaesthesia as well as the relief of postoperative and labour pain. The efficacy of ropivacaine is similar to that of bupivacaine and levobupivacaine for peripheral nerve blocks and, although it may be slightly less potent than bupivacaine when administered epidurally or intrathecally, equi-effective doses have been established. Clinically adequate doses of ropivacaine appear to be associated with a lower incidence or grade of motor block than bupivacaine. Thus ropivacaine, with its efficacy, lower propensity for motor block and reduced potential for CNS toxicity and cardiotoxicity, appears to be an important option for regional anaesthesia and for the management of postoperative and labour pain.

Tocilizumab (RoActemra or Actemra) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that acts as an interleukin (IL)-6 receptor antagonist. Intravenous tocilizumab 8 mg/kg (and no less than 4.8 mg), in combination with methotrexate, is approved in the EU for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients with inadequate response to, or who are intolerant of, prior disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapy. It may also be administered as monotherapy in patients intolerant of methotrexate or in whom methotrexate therapy is inappropriate. Tocilizumab is also approved in Japan for the treatment of polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Castleman's disease. Intravenous tocilizumab was effective and generally well tolerated when administered either as monotherapy or in combination with conventional DMARDs in several well designed clinical studies in adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Tocilizumab-based therapy was consistently more effective than placebo, methotrexate or other DMARDs in reducing disease activity, and some trials also showed significant benefits with tocilizumab in terms of reducing structural joint damage and improving health-related quality of life (HR-QOL). Notably, tocilizumab-based therapy was effective in patients with long-standing disease in whom anti-TNF therapy had previously failed. More data are required to determine the comparative efficacy and safety of tocilizumab versus other biological agents and to establish their relative cost effectiveness. However, the present data suggest that tocilizumab is an important emerging treatment option in adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon), a fusion inhibitor, is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents in the treatment of HIV infection in treatment-experienced adults and children aged >6 years. The addition of subcutaneous enfuvirtide to an optimised antiretroviral background regimen improved the virological and immunological response in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients in the two large, well designed TORO (T-20 vs Optimised Regimen Only) trials. Although injection-site reactions occurred almost universally in enfuvirtide recipients, they were rarely treatment-limiting. Enfuvirtide was otherwise generally well tolerated. The challenge for clinicians is in determining the appropriate timing for enfuvirtide initiation, which requires consideration of the likelihood of a better virological response with the construction of an active background regimen versus the potential for a low rate of adherence to therapy in patients in the early stages of treatment and/or disease development. Enfuvirtide is a novel antiretroviral that is effective in HIV-infected patients whose treatment options are limited by multi-class antiretroviral resistance.

Rasagiline (Azilect) is a novel, selective, irreversible second-generation inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B). It is administered orally once daily and is approved in the US, Canada, Mexico, Israel and the EU for use as monotherapy and as adjunct therapy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Results of well designed clinical studies indicate that rasagiline is effective as initial monotherapy and improves Parkinson's symptomatology in patients with early Parkinson's disease. In addition, when administered in conjunction with levodopa, in patients with moderate to advanced disease and motor fluctuations, rasagiline reduces mean daily 'off' time and increases daily 'on' time without troublesome dyskinesias, compared with controls. Rasagiline is generally well tolerated as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy and is administered once daily. Thus, rasagiline, administered as a simple and convenient dosage regimen, is a well tolerated and effective option for monotherapy in patients with early Parkinson's disease and for adjunctive therapy in patients with moderate to advanced disease.