On December 4, during the recent 53rd ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in Anaheim, California, Tim Archibald, a pharmacy student at Gatton School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, presented a poster about research into the stability of CutisPharma’s vancomycin hydrochloride (FIRVANQ; CutisPharma) for oral solution.

Indicated to treat C diff–associated diarrhea, hydrochloride for oral solution—the only FDA-approved vancomycin oral liquid therapy—replaces the need for a compounded vancomycin oral solution for the treatment of C diff–associated diarrhea.

Archibald conducted the research study with Stacy Brown, PhD, associate professor, East Tennessee State University, who specializes in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and Paul Lewis, MD, Department of Infectious Diseases, Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City, Tennessee.

The product’s hallmark attribute, according to Archibald, is its cost efficiency. “Vancomycin for oral solution is very stable, up to 30 days, and this reduces waste in the pharmacy,” he said. The researchers found that vancomycin in FIRVANQ was stable independent of temperature and storage container.

In April 2018, CutisPharma announced the commercial launch of FIRVANQ (vancomycin hydrochloride) for oral solution for the treatment of C diff–associated diarrhea and enterocolitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains.

Commenting on the launch of FIRVANQ, Linda Carlino, executive director of sales for CutisPharma, said, “FIRVANQ’s availability means that pharmacists no longer need to compound oral vancomycin solution, which we expect will significantly expand accessibility of this important therapy to patients.”

FIRVANQ replaced CutisPharma’s FIRST-Vancomycin Unit-of-Use Compounding Kit, previously available to pharmacists who required an accurate, compliant way to compound vancomycin oral liquid therapy. FIRVANQ is commercially available in 25- and 50-mg/mL strengths in 150-mL and 300-mL sizes.

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