Oritavancin diphosphate

Oritavancin (Orbactiv(®)) is a new generation lipoglycopeptide approved for use in adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). It is administered as a single 1200 mg intravenous infusion over 3 h. In phase 3 trials in adult patients with ABSSSI, oritavancin was noninferior to vancomycin in terms of a composite outcome (cessation of spreading or reduction in the size of the baseline lesion, absence of fever and no rescue antibacterials required; primary endpoint) assessed at an US FDA-recommended early timepoint of 48-72 h after initiation of treatment. Oritavancin was also noninferior to vancomycin in terms of a ≥20 % reduction in the baseline lesion size at the early timepoint and clinical cure rate 7-14 days after the end of treatment. Oritavancin was generally well tolerated in the phase 3 trials, with most treatment-emergent adverse reactions being mild in severity. The most common adverse events occurring in oritavancin recipients were nausea, headache, vomiting, limb and subcutaneous abscesses, and diarrhoea. Oritavancin offers a number of potential advantages, including a convenient single dose treatment that may shorten or eliminate hospital stays, a reduction in healthcare resource utilization and cost, no need for dosage adjustment in patients with mild to moderate hepatic or renal impairment, no need for therapeutic drug monitoring, and elimination of compliance concerns.

This article was written with the aim to establish a consensus clinical pathway for long-acting lipoglycopeptide antibiotics such as oritavancin (Orbactiv®) and dalbavancin (Dalvance®) for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). Seven infectious diseases pharmacy specialists from a variety of facilities across the United States (US) participated in a roundtable discussion to consider the use of newer single-dose long-acting lipoglycopeptides, and integrate them into clinical pathways for ABSSSI. They identified two ways of treating with these drugs: first, to facilitate discharge from the hospital by switching from initial therapy (e.g., with intravenous (IV) vancomycin) and second, to avoid hospital admission altogether, since the product can be administered in several outpatient settings of care including the emergency department (ED), observation unit (OU) or outpatient infusion center. The participants used existing literature on classification and treatment of ABSSSI and their experience in the clinical setting as bases for their discussion and came to a consensus on the considerations for patient inclusion and exclusion as well as a pathway for outpatient treatment with long-acting lipoglycopeptides.

Each month, subscribers to The Formulary Monograph Service receive 5 to 6 well-documented monographs on drugs that are newly released or are in late phase 3 trials. The monographs are targeted to Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committees. Subscribers also receive monthly 1-page summary monographs on agents that are useful for agendas and pharmacy/nursing in-services. A comprehensive target drug utilization evaluation/medication use evaluation (DUE/MUE) is also provided each month. With a subscription, the monographs are sent in print and are also available on-line. Monographs can be customized to meet the needs of a facility. A drug class review is now published monthly with The Formulary Monograph Service. Through the cooperation of The Formulary, Hospital Pharmacy publishes selected reviews in this column. For more information about The Formulary Monograph Service, call The Formulary at 800-322-4349. The October 2014 monograph topics are ortitavancin diphosphate, insulin human inhalation powder, empaglifozin, efinaconazole topical solution, 10%, and tavaborole topical solution, 5%. The DUE/MUE is on oritavancin diphosphate.