Metralindole (Inkazan) is a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A (RIMA) which was used in Russia as an antidepressant. Inkasan (3-methyl-8-methoxy-3H, 1,2,5,6- tetrahydropyrazine /1.2.3-ab/-beta-carboline hydrochloride) has pharmacological properties characteristic of antidepressants. The clinical antidepressant effect of inkasan is combined with stimulating action. The drug is primarily indicated for patients in whom adynamic (anergic) disturbances are predominant in the clinical picture of depression.

Dipyrone, also known as Metamizole (INN), is an ampyrone sulfonate analgesic, antispasmodic and antipyretic. It was withdrawn from US market in 1977 on the basis of reports of agranulocytosis. Depyrone is still used to treat severe and diffucult for relieving pains of different origin; headache, tooth-ache, pains in the joints, muscles, following traumas and operations, gall and kidney colics, neurites, neuralgias, traumatic cerebrasthenia; inflammation of upper respiratory ways of microbial or virus origin; chorea; febrile states. Mechanism of action of dipyrone is complex. It is believed that dipyrone exerts its action by inhibiting COX-3, and activates opioid and cannabioid systems either itself, or by products of its metabolic degradation.

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro™) is a single molecule that combines dual agonism of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. Tirzepatide is a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist. It is a 39-amino-acid modified peptide with a C20 fatty diacid moiety that enables albumin binding and prolongs the half-life. Tirzepatide selectively binds to and activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors, the targets for native GIP and GLP-1. Tirzepatide enhances first- and second-phase insulin secretion, and reduces glucagon levels, both in a glucose-dependent manner. GIP also plays a role in nutrient and energy metabolism, while GLP-1 also delays gastric emptying, supresses appetite and improves satiety. Eli Lilly is developing tirzepatide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, cardiovascular disorders in T2DM, heart failure, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, obstructive sleep apnoea and for reducing mortality/morbidity in obesity. In May 2022, tirzepatide received its first approval in the USA to improve glycaemic control in adults with T2DM, as an adjunct to diet and exercise. Tirzepatide is in phase III development for heart failure, obesity and cardiovascular disorders in T2DM, and in phase II development for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Tirzepatide can also be used off-label for treating obesity. It is currently implemented as a second-line diabetes medication, similar to GLP-1 medications like semaglutide. It is a once-a-week subcutaneous injectable medication with incremental dose increases.

Terlipressin (Glypressin) is indicated for the treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices and in some countries for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome type 1. It is a prodrug and is converted to the lysine vasopressin in the circulation after the N-triglycyl residue is cleaved by endothelial peptidases. This results in a ‘slow release’ of the vasoactive lysine vasopressin. Terlipressin exerts its action by activating V1a, V1b and V2 vasopressin receptors. On September 14, 2022, the FDA granted approval to terlipressin (Terlivaz) for the treatment of adults hospitalized with hepatorenal syndrome with rapid reduction in kidney function (HRS-1). Prior to the approval, no approved treatment for this condition existed in the United States.

Nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332) is a new oral antiviral drug developed by Pfizer. Nirmatrelvir is a major bioavailable oral SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor with in vitro human coronavirus antiviral activity, and excellent selection of off-target and in vivo immune profiles. The combination of ritonavir and nirmatrelvir under the brand name Paxlovid was approved by the FDA on May 25, 2023, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. Nirmatrelvir is a peptidomimetic inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), also referred to as 3C-like protease (3CLpro) or nonstructural protein 5 (nsp5) protease. Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro renders it incapable of processing the viral polyproteins pp1a and pp1ab, preventing viral replication. Nirmatrelvir inhibited the activity of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in a biochemical assay with a Ki value of 3.1 nM and an IC50 value of 19.2 nM. Nirmatrelvir was found to bind directly to the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro active site by X-ray crystallography.

Elacestrant (ER-306323 or RAD 1901 [6R)-6-(2-(N-(4-(2-(ethylamino)ethyl)benzyl)-N-ethylamino)-4-methoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-ol dihydrochloride]) is an estrogen receptor antagonist that binds to estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα). In ERpositive (ER ) HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer cells, elacestrant inhibited 17β-estradiol mediated cell proliferation at concentrations inducing degradation of ERα protein mediated through proteasomal pathway. Elacestrant demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity including in ER HER2- breast cancer models resistant to fulvestrant and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors and those harboring estrogen receptor 1 gene (ESR1) mutations. On January 27, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved elacestrant (Orserdu, Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.) for postmenopausal women or adult men with ER-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following at least one line of endocrine therapy.

Leniolisib (JOENJA®) is an oral selective phosphoinositide 3-kinase-delta (PI3Kdelta) inhibitor being developed by Pharming Group NV in-licensed from Novartis for the treatment of immunodeficiency disorders. Leniolisib inhibits PI3K-delta by blocking the active binding site of PI3K-delta. In cell-free isolated enzyme assays, leniolisib was selective for PI3K-delta over PI3K-alpha (28-fold), PI3K-beta (43-fold), and PI3K-gamma (257-fold), as well as the broader kinome. In cell-based assays, leniolisib reduced pAKT pathway activity and inhibited proliferation and activation of B and T cell subsets. Gain-of-function variants in the gene encoding the p110-delta catalytic subunit or loss of function variants in the gene encoding the p85-alpha regulatory subunit each cause hyperactivity of PI3K-delta. Leniolisib inhibits the signalling pathways that lead to increased production of PIP3, hyperactivity of the downstream mTOR/AKT pathway, and to the dysregulation of B and T cells. In March 2023, leniolisib received its first approval for the treatment of activated PI3Kdelta syndrome (APDS) in adult and paediatric patients 12 years of age and older. Leniolisib is also under regulatory review in European Union for the treatment of APDS. Development of leniolisib for the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome has been discontinued.

Mitapivat (AG-348; PKM2 activator 1020) is a novel, first-in-class oral small molecule allosteric activator of the pyruvate kinase enzyme. Mitapivat has been shown to significantly upregulate both wild-type and numerous mutant forms of erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PKR), increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and reducing levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Given this mechanism, mitapivat has been evaluated in clinical trials in a wide range of hereditary hemolytic anemias, including pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD), sickle cell disease, and the thalassemias. Mitapivat was approved for the treatment of hemolytic anemia in adults with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency in the United States in February 2022, and in the European Union in November 2022.

Daridorexant (Quviviq™; Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd.) is an orally administered dual orexin type 1 and type 2 (OX1 and OX2) receptor antagonist (DORA) being developed for the treatment of insomnia. It was selected from a pool of drug candidates on the basis of an expected effect duration of ≈ 8 h at a dose of 25 mg, with a half-life intended to minimize residual effects that might impair daytime functioning. Based on the results of two pivotal phase III trials, daridorexant was recently approved in the USA for the treatment of adult patients with insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or sleep maintenance. The mechanism of action of daridorexant in the treatment of insomnia is presumed to be through antagonism of orexin receptors. The orexin neuropeptide signaling system plays a role in wakefulness. Blocking the binding of wake-promoting neuropeptides orexin A and orexin B to receptors OX1R and OX2R is thought to suppress wake drive.

Mitapivat (AG-348; PKM2 activator 1020) is a novel, first-in-class oral small molecule allosteric activator of the pyruvate kinase enzyme. Mitapivat has been shown to significantly upregulate both wild-type and numerous mutant forms of erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PKR), increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and reducing levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Given this mechanism, mitapivat has been evaluated in clinical trials in a wide range of hereditary hemolytic anemias, including pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD), sickle cell disease, and the thalassemias. Mitapivat was approved for the treatment of hemolytic anemia in adults with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency in the United States in February 2022, and in the European Union in November 2022.