Rosiglitazone acts as a highly selective and potent agonist at peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPAR) in target tissues for insulin action such as adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver. It is FDA approved for the treatment of as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Inhibitors of CYP2C8 (e.g., gemfibrozil) may increase rosiglitazone levels; inducers of CYP2C8 (e.g., rifampin) may decrease rosiglitazone levels. Common adverse reactions include edema, weight gain, and headache.

Mibefradil is a calcium channel blocker, chemically unlike other compounds in the class, that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S.A. in June 1997 for the treatment of patients with hypertension and chronic stable angina. Shortly following its introduction, mibefradil was withdrawn from the market in the U.S.A. as well as in Europe. The reason for the voluntary withdrawal of the drug by Roche laboratories was claimed to be the result of new information about potentially harmful interactions with other drugs. Mibefradil is calcium channel blocker with moderate selectivity for T-type Ca2+ channels displaying IC50 values of 2.7 uM and 18.6 uM for T-type and L-type channels respectively. Mibefradil is a tetralol calcium channel blocking agent that inhibits the influx of calcium ions across both the T (low-voltage) and L (high-voltage) calcium channels of cardiac and vascular smooth muscle, with a greater selectivity for T channels. Vasodilation occurs in vascular smooth muscle, causing a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance and a resulting decrease in blood pressure. Mibefradil causes a slight increase in cardiac output during chronic dosing. Mibefradil slows sinus and atrioventricular (AV) node conduction, producing a slight reduction in heart rate and a slight increase in the PR interval. It has also been shown to slightly lengthen the corrected sinus node recovery time and AH interval and to raise the Wenckebach point. The mechanism by which mibefradil reduces angina is not known, but is thought to be attributed to a reduction in heart rate, total peripheral resistance (afterload), and the heart rate-systolic blood pressure product at any given level of exercise. The result of these effects is a decrease in cardiac workload and myocardial oxygen demand. Mibefradil has been repurposed from an abandoned antihypertensive to a targeted solid tumor treatment, and it has been rescued from drug-drug interactions by using short-term dose exposure. Tau is using the early success of mibefradil as a proof of concept to build a platform technology of Cav3 blockers for broad antitumor applications in combination with new targeted cancer therapies, well-established.

Cerivastatin (BAYCOL®) is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, which is responsible for the conversion of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) to mevalonate, a precursor of sterols, including cholesterol. The inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis by cerivastatin reduces the level of cholesterol in hepatic cells, which stimulates the synthesis of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors, thereby increasing the uptake of cellular LDL particles. The end result of these biochemical processes is a reduction of the plasma cholesterol concentration. On August 8, 2001 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Bayer Pharmaceutical Division voluntarily withdrew BAYCOL® from the U.S. market, due to reports of fatal rhabdomyolysis, a severe adverse reaction from this cholesterol-lowering (lipid-lowering) product. It has also been withdrawn from the Canadian market.

Fenoldopam (marketed under the brand name Corlopam) is a drug and synthetic benzazepine derivative which acts as a selective D1 receptor partial agonist. Fenoldopam is a rapid-acting vasodilator. It is an agonist for D1-like dopamine receptors and binds with moderate affinity to α2-adrenoceptors. It has no significant affinity for D2-like receptors, α1 and β adrenoceptors, 5HT1 and 5HT2 receptors, or muscarinic receptors. Fenoldopam is a racemic mixture with the R-isomer responsible for the biological activity. The R-isomer has approximately 250-fold higher affinity for D1-like receptors than does the S-isomer. Fenoldopam Mesylate Injection, USP is indicated for the in-hospital, short-term (up to 48 hours) management of severe hypertension when rapid, but quickly reversible, emergency reduction of blood pressure is clinically indicated, including malignant hypertension with deteriorating end-organ function.

Amifostine is an organic thiophosphate cytoprotective agent known chemically as 2-[(3¬ aminopropyl)amino]ethanethiol dihydrogen phosphate (ester), it’s adjuvant used in cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy involving DNA-binding chemotherapeutic agents. It is marketed under the trade name Ethyol. Amifostine is a prodrug and is dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase in tissues to a pharmacologically active free thiol metabolite. This metabolite is believed to be responsible for the reduction of the cumulative renal toxicity of cisplatin and for the reduction of the toxic effects of radiation on normal oral tissues. The ability of Ethyol to differentially protect normal tissues is attributed to the higher capillary alkaline phosphatase activity, higher pH and better vascularity of normal tissues relative to tumor tissue, which results in a more rapid generation of the active thiol metabolite as well as a higher rate constant for uptake into cells. The higher concentration of the thiol metabolite in normal tissues is available to bind to, and thereby detoxify, reactive metabolites of cisplatin. This thiol metabolite can also scavenge reactive oxygen species generated by exposure to either cisplatin or radiation. Healthy cells are preferentially protected because amifostine and metabolites are present in healthy cells at 100-fold greater concentrations than in tumor cells.

Acrivastine is a triprolidine analog antihistamine indicated for the treatment of allergies and hay fever. As an H1 receptor antagonist, it functions by blocking the action of histamine at this receptor thereby preventing the symptoms associated with histamine release such as pruritis, vasodilation, hypotension, edema, bronchoconstriction, and tachycardia. Acrivastine is currently available in combination with pseudoephedrine as the FDA-approved product Semprex-D. It’s used for the relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis such as sneezing, rhinorrhea, pruritus, lacrimation, and nasal congestion. Acrivastine, a structural analog of triprolidine hydrochloride, exhibits H1-antihistaminic activity in isolated tissues, animals, and humans, and has sedative effects in humans. The propionic acid derivative of acrivastine is a metabolite in several animal species (as well as in man) and also exhibits H1-antihistaminic activity.

Cisapride is chemically related to metoclopramide, but unlike metoclopramide, it does not cross the blood-brain barrier or have antidopaminergic effects. Cisapride is a serotonin-4 (5-HT4) receptor agonist. Cisapride was indicated for the symptomatic treatment of adult patients with nocturnal heartburn due to gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in America stopped the marketing of cisapride as of 14th July 2000. They had received at least 341 reports of heart rhythm abnormalities and these led to 80 deaths. Other reported adverse effects are: headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation. Cisapride for animals has been found helpful in some cases of megaesophagus and is a common treatment for feline megacolon. Clarithromycin, erythromycin, and troleandomycin markedly inhibit the metabolism of cisapride. Concurrent administration of certain anticholinergic compounds, such as belladonna alkaloids and dicyclomine, would be expected to compromise the beneficial effects of cisapride.

Teniposide is an inhibitor of topoisomerase II with anti-cancer activity. The drug was approved by FDA under the name Vumon for the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Temafloxacin (marketed by Abbott Laboratories as Omniflox) is almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, with an absolute bioavailability of approximately 93% and is not greatly affected by food. The time to reach peak concentrations ranges between 2 and 3 hours. In addition to the broad spectrum of activity all fluoroquinolones have against gram-negative pathogens, temafloxacin has improved antimicrobial activity against gram-positive aerobic cocci, intracellular microorganisms, and anaerobes. The bactericidal action of temafloxacin results from interference with the activity of the bacterial enzymes DNA gyrase. Omniflox was approved to treat lower respiratory tract infections, genital and urinary infections like prostatitis, and skin infections in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration in January 1992. Severe adverse reactions, including allergic reactions and hemolytic anemia, developed in about fifty patients during the first four months of its use, leading to three patient deaths. Abbott withdrew the drug from sale in June 1992.

Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol) and a lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood plasma of all animals. The high level of cholesterol in the blood is a marker of hypercholesterolemia, also called dyslipidemia. As a part of homeopathic product, it helps to support general liver and gallbladder health, and is used for temporary relief of symptoms related to adrenal glands such as fatigue and low energy. Cholesterol binds to and affects the gating of a number of ion channels such as the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) Inwardly-rectifying K+ channels (Kir); Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channels (TRPV1) and Large-conductance Ca2+-sensitive voltage-gated K+ channels (BK). It was shown the new mechanistic insights into the role of cholesterol in the regulation of nAChR, showing that cholesterol regulates the channels by two distinct mechanisms: stabilization of the channels in a resting state that depends on specific lipid-protein interactions and facilitation of the transitions between uncoupled and coupled states that depends on the hydrophobic thickness of the membrane