Diazepam is a benzodiazepine first discovered at Hoffman-La Roche in the late 1950s. Diazepam was approved by FDA for the treatment of anxiety disorders as well as for such conditions as skeletal muscle spasm, alcohol withdrawal syndrom and convulsions (under the most known brand Valium). The drug acts by binding to GABA-A receptors and potentiating GABA evoked current. Chronic diazepam use is associated with tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal.

Isocarboxazid (Marplan, Marplon, Enerzer) is a non-selective, irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) of the hydrazine class used as an antidepressant. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated inhibition of MAO in the brain, heart, and liver. Depression is a complicated disease that is not fully understood. It is thought that depression may be linked to an imbalance of chemicals within the brain. When depression occurs, there may be a decrease in the amount of chemicals released from nerve cells in the brain. These chemicals are called monoamines. Monoamines are broken down by a chemical called monoamine oxidase. Isocarboxazid prevents monoamine oxidase from breaking down the monoamines. This results in an increased amount of active monoamines in the brain. By increasing the amount of monoamines in the brain, the imbalance of chemicals thought to be caused by depression is altered. This helps relieve the symptoms of depression. Isocarboxazid works by irreversibly blocking the action of a chemical substance known as monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the nervous system. MAO subtypes A and B are involved in the metabolism of serotonin and catecholamine neurotransmitters such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Isocarboxazid, as a nonselective MAO inhibitor, binds irreversibly to monoamine oxidase–A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase–B (MAO-B). The reduced MAO activity results in an increased concentration of these neurotransmitters in storage sites throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and sympathetic nervous system. This increased availability of one or more monoamines is the basis for the antidepressant activity of MAO inhibitors. May be used to treat major depressive disorder.

LIBRAX® combines in a single capsule formulation the antianxiety action of chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride and the anticholinergic/spasmolytic effects of clidinium bromide. Chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride is a versatile, therapeutic agent of proven value for the relief of anxiety and tension. It is indicated when anxiety, tension or apprehension are significant components of the clinical profile. It is among the safer of the effective psychopharmacologic compounds. Clidinium bromide is a synthetic anticholinergic agent which has been shown in experimental and clinical studies to have a pronounced antispasmodic and antisecretory effect on the gastrointestinal tract. It inhibits muscarinic actions of acetylcholine at postganglionic parasympathetic neuroeffector sites. LIBRAX® is indicated to control emotional and somatic factors in gastrointestinal disorders. It may also be used as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of peptic ulcer and in the treatment of the irritable bowel syndrome (irritable colon, spastic colon, mucous colitis) and acute enterocolitis.

Panthenol (pantothenol) is an alcohol form of the B5 vitamin pantothenic acid. It easily penetrates the skin retaining water and is a humectant, emollient and moisturizer. Panthenol mitigates signs of inflammation and stimulates epithelization. Panthenol comes in two enantiomers, D and L. Only D-panthenol (dexpanthenol) is biologically active, however both forms have moisturizing properties. Because of the ability to attract and hold moisture panthenol is used in skincare products as a humectant. It also has a role as provitamin (called pro-vitamin B5) and is used as a vitamin supplement in complex ( M.V.I. ADULT injection, Hospira Worldwide, Inc.) and alone, and as a cholinergic drug. Panthenol is a highly viscous transparent liquid at room temperature, but salts of pantothenic acid (sodium pantothenate) are powders (typically white). It is soluble in water, alcohol, propylene glycol, ether and chloroform, and slightly soluble in glycerin. Panthenol mixes readily with many different types of ingredients, making it a versatile ingredient to be used in formulas because it improves skin’s barrier function and maintains the proliferation of fibroblasts. In organisms it is quickly oxidized to pantothenate (pantothenic acid). Defficiency of Vitamin B5 results in many dermatological disorder. Due to the fact that only D-Panthenol is converted to Vitamin B5 and not L-Panthenol, the racemic mixture of D- and L- panthenol (DL-panthenol) has only half of the physiological activity of the D-Panthenol. These include stimulation of epithelisation, wound healing effect and anti-infl ammatory effect. Panthenol is FDA approved for cosmetic use and comes either in D form, or as a racemic mixture. It is also in the FDA list of over-the-counter drug products that are not generally recognized as safe and effective or are misbranded: as "Insect Bite and Sting Drug Products" and "Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac Drug Products".

Dextromethorphan is a non-narcotic morphine derivative widely used as an antitussive for almost 40 years. It has attracted attention due to its anticonvulsant and neuroprotective properties. It is a cough suppressant in many over-the-counter cold and cough medicines. In 2010, the FDA approved the combination product dextromethorphan/quinidine for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect. Dextromethorphan suppresses the cough reflex by a direct action on the cough center in the medulla of the brain. Dextromethorphan shows high-affinity binding to several regions of the brain, including the medullary cough center. This compound is an NMDA receptor antagonist and acts as a non-competitive channel blocker. It is one of the widely used antitussives and is used to study the involvement of glutamate receptors in neurotoxicity. Dextromethorphan (DM) is a sigma-1 receptor agonist and an uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist. The mechanism by which dextromethorphan exerts therapeutic effects in patients with pseudobulbar affect is unknown. Dextromethorphan should not be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitors due to the potential for serotonin syndrome. Dextromethorphan is extensively metabolized by CYP2D6 to dextrorphan, which is rapidly glucuronidated and unable to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Phenindamine (thephorin or 2-methyl-9-phenyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1-pyridindene) a pyridindene derivative proved to be a potent antihistaminic. Phenindamine was used to treat sneezing; runny nose; itching, watery eyes; hives; rashes; itching; and other symptoms of allergies and the common cold.

Flurocitabine is an anti-metabolite that was developed by Hoffmann-La Roche for the treatment of cancer. The drug is metabolized to 2 biologically active substances, AFC (1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-fluorocytosine) and AFU (arabinofuranosyl-5-fluorouracil). Flurocitabine was tested against stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, small cell lung cancer and AML, however, the development was terminated in the early phases.

Pipequaline (PK-8165, 2-phenyl-4[2-(4-piperidinyl) ethyl]quinoline) is a benzodiazepine receptor partial agonist.

Aleglitazar is a dual agonist of PPARalpha/PPARgamma which was developed by Hoffmann-La Roche for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Aleglitazar activates PPAR receptors with EC50 in nanomolar range and exerts a cardioprotective effect in vitro. The drug is currently in phase III of clinical trials.

(±)-quinuclidinyl benzilate (3-quinuclidinyl benzilate), is a specific muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist. It binds potently but reversibly to the muscarinic cholinergic receptors of mammalian brain and peripheral tissues. 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate was invented by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc in 1951, while investigating antispasmodic agents resembling tropine for the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions. In the 1960s 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate, was developed and weaponized as a new chemical agent for battlefield use as a psychochemical. Assigned the NATO code BZ it is classified as a hallucinogenic chemical warfare agent that affects both the peripheral and central nervous systems (CNS). It is one of the most potent anticholinergic psychomimetics known, with only small doses necessary to produce incapacitation. The primary route of absorption is through the respiratory system but absorption also can occur through the skin or gastrointestinal tract. BZ is odorless and is usually disseminated as an aerosol. Data regarding the health effects of BZ in humans following inhalation exposure are limited to military application studies. Pharmacologic activity of 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate is similar to other anticholinergic drugs (eg, atropine) but with a much longer duration of action. It was shown that I[3H]-3-quinuclidinyl benzilate accumulated in various brain regions after intravenous injection. The specific binding of [3-3H]3-quinuclidinyl-benzilate and [125I]3-quinuclidinyl-(3-iodo-4-hydroxy-benzilate) to rat brain subcellular fractions is parallel in myelin, synaptic plasma membrane and mitochondrial fractions with a 3-4-fold enrichment observed in synaptic plasma membrane over crude mitochondrial fractions. These findings suggested the use of 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate as a binding probe useful in assaying low levels of muscarinic receptor in tissue culture and other biological sources including labeling the receptor in vivo for autoradiographic studies. M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M2 receptor), essential for the physiologic control of cardiovascular function through activation of G protein-coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium channels, was shown to bind 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate with high affinity in vitro.