New drugs: Ciclesonide, certolizumab pegol, and bendamustine hydrochloride

Ciclesonide (Omnaris-Nycomed; Sepracor) is the seventh corticosteroid to be marketed in the United States for intranasal administration in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, joining beclomethasone dipropionate (Beconase AQ), budesonide (Rhinocort Aqua), flunisolide (e.g., Nasarel), fluticasone furoate (Veramyst), fluticasone propionate (e.g., Flonase), mometasone furoate (Nasonex), and triamcinolone acetonide (Nasacort AQ). The new agent is a prodrug that is enzymatically hydrolyzed by esterases in the nasal mucosa to a pharmacologically active metabolite, desciclesonide. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2006 but not marketed until 2008.