Pediatric News
PHELPS RECEIVES PIECORO AWARD
Dr Stephanie J. Phelps is the recipient of the 2020 University of Kentucky (UK) Piecoro Pioneer Award in Pediatric Pharmacy. The award is given annually to an individual who has displayed sustained contribution to the profession of pediatric pharmacy and a passion to encourage the personal and professional growth of others in the field. Dr Phelps received a BScPharm from Samford University (1979) and a PharmD (1982) from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). She subsequently completed postdoctoral training in pediatrics at LeBonheur Children's Hospital and UTHSC. Dr Phelps is currently professor emeritus of clinical pharmacy and translational science and pediatrics at UTHSC. She is an elected fellow of American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), American Pharmacist Association (APhA), Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA), and the National Academy of Practice (NAP). Over the years, she has received awards from ACCP, APhA and PPA. The University of Tennessee Alumni Association, and the Distinguished Service Award from the UTHSC College of Pharmacy. During her career, she has participated in the education of 6 postdoctoral fellows and more than 70 pediatric pharmacy residents. She is editor of The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics and The Teddy Bear Book: Pediatric Injectable Drugs and has published more than 100 manuscripts and book chapters.
John Piecoro, PharmD, in whose honor this award was created, was a pioneer in pediatric pharmacy. He was associated with the UK College of Pharmacy for more than 35 years, starting in the late 1960s. Dr Piecoro initiated clinical pharmacy services in pediatrics at UK HealthCare and was central to the early success of the organization's pediatric pharmacy program. Piecoro served as the Associate Director of Pharmacy at the hospital for more than 10 years. Piecoro also served the university in other areas, including within Central Administration and UK Athletics.
FDA APPROVES INMAZEB FOR INFECTION CAUSED BY ZAIRE EBOLAVIRUS
On October 14, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved INMAZEB (atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab) for the treatment of infection caused by Zaire ebolavirus in adult and pediatric patients, including neonates born to a mother who is reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) positive for Zaire ebolavirus infection. INMAZEB is an antiviral drug combination of three recombinant human IgG1κ monoclonal antibodies (i.e., atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab) that inhibit Zaire ebola-virus. The approved recommended dosage of is 50 mg of atoltivimab, 50 mg of maftivimab, and 50 mg of odesivimab per kg diluted and administered as a single intravenous infusion. The effect of age (< 21 or > 60), renal impairment, or hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab is unknown. The most common adverse events (incidence ≥ 20%) were pyrexia, chills, tachycardia, tachypnea, and vomiting.