Pexiganan is a 22-amino-acid synthetic cationic peptide. It is an analog of magainin 2, which is a host defense peptide isolated from frog skin. The drug is thought to act by disturbing the permeability of the cell membrane or cell wall. Pexiganan exhibited in vitro broad-spectrum antibacterial activity when it was tested against 3,109 clinical isolates of gram-positive and gram-negative, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. It is currently in phase 3 clinical trials as a topical antimicrobial agent for the treatment of mild infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers. In vitro data for pexiganan acetate suggest that the drug does have hemolytic activity at concentrations relevant for antibacterial activity. In association with tigecycline, pexiganan administration could overcome antibiotic resistance and increase the effectiveness of treatment against P. aeruginosa sepsis.

Trodusquemine (MSI-1436) is a "first-in-class" highly selective non-competitive, allosteric inhibitor of PTP1B that can cross the blood-brain barrier to suppress feeding and promote insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. Trodusquemine is a naturally occurring cholestane that can be purified from the liver of the dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias, but it can also be manufactured synthetically by a fairly laborious process that requires several weeks. Trodusquemine has potential hypoglycemic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, trodusquemine selectively targets and inhibits PTP1B, thereby preventing PTP1B-mediated signaling. This prevents the dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor, which improves insulin signaling and insulin sensitivity, and decreases blood glucose levels. In susceptible cancer cells, inhibition of PTP1B causes a reduction of tumor cell proliferation.

Pexiganan is a 22-amino-acid synthetic cationic peptide. It is an analog of magainin 2, which is a host defense peptide isolated from frog skin. The drug is thought to act by disturbing the permeability of the cell membrane or cell wall. Pexiganan exhibited in vitro broad-spectrum antibacterial activity when it was tested against 3,109 clinical isolates of gram-positive and gram-negative, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. It is currently in phase 3 clinical trials as a topical antimicrobial agent for the treatment of mild infections associated with diabetic foot ulcers. In vitro data for pexiganan acetate suggest that the drug does have hemolytic activity at concentrations relevant for antibacterial activity. In association with tigecycline, pexiganan administration could overcome antibiotic resistance and increase the effectiveness of treatment against P. aeruginosa sepsis.

Trodusquemine (MSI-1436) is a "first-in-class" highly selective non-competitive, allosteric inhibitor of PTP1B that can cross the blood-brain barrier to suppress feeding and promote insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. Trodusquemine is a naturally occurring cholestane that can be purified from the liver of the dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias, but it can also be manufactured synthetically by a fairly laborious process that requires several weeks. Trodusquemine has potential hypoglycemic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, trodusquemine selectively targets and inhibits PTP1B, thereby preventing PTP1B-mediated signaling. This prevents the dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor, which improves insulin signaling and insulin sensitivity, and decreases blood glucose levels. In susceptible cancer cells, inhibition of PTP1B causes a reduction of tumor cell proliferation.