Melperone is an antipsychotic drug which is used in Europe for the treatment of sleep disorders, agitation and confusion states. The exact mechanism of melperone action is unknown.

Evocalcet (MT-4580, KHK7580) is an allosteric calcium-sensing receptor agonist. Evocalcet directly acts on calcium receptors on parathyroid cells to suppress synthesis and secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH), and it consequently decreases serum PTH and serum calcium. ORKEDIA® TABLETS (generic name: evocalcet, code name: KHK7580) has been listed on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Drug Price List and launched for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients on maintenance dialysis in Japan.

Ripasudil (K-115) is a selective Rho-associated coiled coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor. This compound, which was originally discovered by D. Western Therapeutics Institute, Inc., reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) by directly acting on the trabecular meshwork, thereby increasing conventional outflow through the Schlemm's canal. As a result of this mechanism of action, ripasudil may offer additive effects in the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension when used in combination with agents such as prostaglandin analogues (which increase uveoscleral outflow) and β blockers (which reduce aqueous production). GLANATEC® (Ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate) ophthalmic solution 0.4% is launched in Japan for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Talinolol (brand name Cordanurn) is the cardioselective beta-receptor antagonist which has been used for a long time in the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases and in tachyarrhythmia. The mean dosage is 10-20 mg intravenously administered over a period of 3-5 minutes, while the chronic oral dosage for this patient group amounts to 300mg/day. Cordanum eliminates the stimulating effect of catecholamines on the heart for physical and psychoemotional stress. The hypotensive effect is stabilized by the end of 2 weeks of course treatment. Reduces the frequency and severity of angina attacks; Contributes to the limitation of the heart attack zone and reduces the risk of arrhythmia in the presence of myocardial infarction, resulting in a decrease in mortality and the frequency of relapses. In average therapeutic doses, it has a less pronounced effect on the smooth muscles of the bronchi, myometrium, and peripheral arteries compared to non-selective beta-blockers. Talinolol is used in supraventricular (atrial fibrillation and flutter with high ventricular rate, paroxysmal supraventricular 1 tachycardia, sinus tachycardia) as well as ventricular extrasystoles and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Patients with an increased tonus of the sympathetic nervous system related to sinus tachycardia, exercise-induced arrhythmias, hypertension, hyperthyroidism and coronary heart disease show a particularly positive reaction.

Raclopride is a salicylamide neuroleptic, that acts as a selective antagonist of D2 dopamine receptors both in vitro and in vivo. Tritium-labelled raclopride has properties that demonstrate its usefulness as a radioligand for the labelling of dopamine-D2 receptors : 3H-Raclopride has a high affinity for the rat and human dopamine-D2 receptors, the non-specific binding of 3H-raclopride is very low, not exceeding 5% of the total binding and the distribution of the 3H-raclopride binding sites in the brain closely correlates with the dopaminergic innervation. The binding of 3H-raclopride is blocked by dopamine-D2 agonists and antagonists, while the D1 agonist SKF 38393 and the Dl antagonist SCH 23390 have much less potency. The interaction of dopamine with 3H-raclopride binding results in a shallow competition curve, which suggests that 3H-raclopride, similar to other dopamine-D2 radioligands, labels both high and low agonist affinity states of the dopamine-D2 receptor. The in vivo receptor binding studies performed with 3H-raclopride also demonstrate its favorable properties as a dopamine-D2 receptor marker in vivo In contrast to some other compounds used as radioligands, raclopride enters the brain readily and binds with a low component of non-specific binding in all dopamine-rich brain areas. A saturation curve may be achieved in vivo binding studies since injections of increasing concentrations of 3H-raclopride appears to be saturated at concentrations above 25 mkCi (corresponding to approximately 5 nmol/kg). Raclopride antagonizes apomorphine-induced hyperactivity in the rat at low doses (ED50 = 130 nM/kg i.p.) but induces catalepsy only at much higher doses (ED50 = 27 mkM/kg i.p.). Radiolabelled raclopride has been used as a ligand for in vitro and in vivo autoradiography in rat and primate brains. Raclopride C 11 is used with positron emission tomography (PET) as a clinical research tool to determine dopamine type 2 (D 2) receptor density in the human brain under normal and pathological conditions. For example, raclopride C 11 used in PET studies has served to confirm the age-related decrease in striatal dopamine D2 receptor density, which may be associated with a decline in the motor as well as cognitive functions. In patients with Alzheimer's disease, raclopride C 11 may be used to examine neuroreceptor distribution and quantities, which may help in the analysis of degenerative alterations of neuron populations and neuroreceptor systems in patients with this disease. In Huntington's disease, in which degeneration of neostriatal interneurons occurs (postsynaptic to the dopaminergic input), specific binding of raclopride C 11 to D 2 receptors may serve as one of the parameters in predicting performance in cognitive tasks.

Trelagliptin (SYR-472), a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Trelagliptin (as the salt Trelagliptin succinate) was approved for use in Japan in March 2015. Takeda, the company that developed Trelagliptin, chose to not get approval for the drug in the USA and EU.

Ethamsylate (2,5-dihydroxy-benzene-sulfonate diethylammonium salt) is a synthetic hemostatic drug indicated in cases of capillary bleeding. Ethamsylate acts on the first step of hemostasis by improving platelet adhesiveness and restoring capillary resistance. In addition it inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis. Well-controlled clinical trials clearly showed the therapeutic efficacy of ethamsylate in dysfunctional uterine bleeding, with the magnitude of blood-loss reduction being directly proportional to the severity of the menorrhagia. Other well-controlled clinical trials showed therapeutic efficacy of ethamsylate in periventricular hemorrhage in very low birth weight babies and surgical or postsurgical capillary bleeding.

Indirubin is derived from the Indigo Plant (Isatis Root, Isatis Leaf). It is used as part of a traditional Chinese herbal prescription called Dang Gui Long Hui Wan, to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Indirubin inhibits DNA synthesis in several cell lines, in a cell-free assay and in vivo in rats with Walker-256 sarcoma. A weak binding of indirubin to DNA in vitro has been described. Indirubin inhibited all cyclin-dependent kinases (1,2,4,5) almost equally. Indirubin has been approved for clinical trials against chronic myelocytic and chronic granulocytic leukaemia. A few studies show that Indirubin is effective against psoriasis. Mild to severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, and edema are reported adverse events of Indirubin. Long-term oral ingestion has also occasionally been associated with hepatitis, pulmonary arterial hypertension and cardiac insufficiency.

Gentiopicrin is a naturally occurring iridoid glycoside. It is a bioactive component of gentian species of medical plants. It has proved to be the strongest inhibitor of myeloperoxidase. It could be absorbed rapidly in mice, but with a low bioavailability, and could distribute to tissues extensively. Gentiopicrin has been reported to be effective against inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, liver illness, fever, digestive and intestinal disorders. Gentiopicrin treatment can exert anti-inflammatory effects on experimental acute colitis through attenuating the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS and COX-2, and it may present the therapeutic potential in the treatment of colitis. The drug inhibits reserpine-induced pain/depression dyad by downregulating GluN2B receptors in the amygdala. Gentiopicrin injection was approved by SFDA for the treatment of acute jaundice and chronic active hepatitis.

Luseogliflozin (TS-071), a derivative of a novel scaffold, C-phenyl 1-thio-D-glucitol, exhibited potent sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter (SGLT) 2 inhibition activity. Luseogliflozin exhibits a blood glucose lowering effect, excellent urinary glucose excretion properties, and promising pharmacokinetics profiles in animals. It showed good metabolic stability toward cryo-preserved human hepatic clearance, have acceptable human pharmacokinetics properties. Luseogliflozin [Lusefi(®) (Japan)] was developed by Taisho Pharmaceutical for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The drug has received its first global approval for this indication in Japan, either as monotherapy or in combination with other antihyperglycaemic agents.