Ticagrelor (known trade names Brilinta, Brilique and Possia) is a P2Y12 platelet inhibitor. Brilinta has been approved by the US Food and Drug administration (FDA) in 2011 and is indicated to reduce the rate of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or a history of myocardial infarction. Brilinta also reduces the rate of stent thrombosis in patients who have been stented for treatment of ACS. Ticagrelor and its major metabolite reversibly interact with the platelet P2Y12 ADP-receptor to prevent signal transduction and platelet activation. Ticagrelor and its active metabolite are approximately equipotent. In vitro metabolism studies demonstrate that ticagrelor and its major active metabolite are weak inhibitors of CYP3A4, potential activators of CYP3A5 and inhibitors of the P-gp transporter. Most common adverse reactions are bleeding 12% and dyspnea 14%.

Ruxolitinib (trade names Jakafi and Jakavi, by Incyte Pharmaceuticals and Novartis) is a drug for the treatment of intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis, a type of myeloproliferative disorder that affects the bone marrow. It is also being investigated for the treatment of other types of cancer (such as lymphomas and pancreatic cancer), for polycythemia vera, for plaque psoriasis, and for alopecia areata. Myelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) known to be associated with dysregulated JAK1 and JAK2 signaling. Ruxolitinib is a Janus-associated kinase (JAK) inhibitor with potential antineoplastic and immunomodulating activities. Ruxolitinib specifically binds to and inhibits protein tyrosine kinases JAK 1 and 2, which may lead to a reduction in inflammation and an inhibition of cellular proliferation. The JAK-STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) pathway plays a key role in the signaling of many cytokines and growth factors and is involved in cellular proliferation, growth, hematopoiesis, and the immune response; JAK kinases may be upregulated in inflammatory diseases, myeloproliferative disorders, and various malignancies. In a mouse model of JAK2V617F-positive MPN, ruxolitinib prevented splenomegaly, preferentially decreased JAK2V617F mutant cells in the spleen and decreased circulating inflammatory cytokines (eg, TNF-α, IL-6). Ruxolitinib was initially synthesized at Incyte Corporation that acquired the rights to develop and commercialize the drug in US. Incyte amended its Collaboration and License Agreement with Novartis, granting Novartis exclusive research, development and commercialization rights for ruxolitinib outside the U.S.

Dabigatran (Pradaxa, Prazaxa) is an anticoagulant medication that can be taken by mouth. FDA approved on October 19, 2010. Dabigatran directly inhibits thrombin in a concentration-dependent, reversible, specific, and competitive manner which results in a prolongation of aPTT (partial thromboplastin time), ECT (Ecarin clotting time), and TT (thrombin time). It may increase INR but this laboratory parameter is relatively insensitive to the activity of dabigatran. Dabigatran is indicated for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery (based on RE-NOVATE, RE-MODEL, and RE-MOBILIZE trials). In 2010, it was approved in the US and Canada for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (approval based on the RE-LY trial). Contraindications: severe renal impairment (CrCL < 30 ml/min); haemorrhagic manifestations, bleeding diathesis or spontaneous or pharmacologic impairment of haemostasis; lesions at risk of clinically significant bleeding (e.g. extensive cerebral infarction (haemorrhagic or ischemic) in the last 6 months, active peptic ulcer disease); concomitant treatment with P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g. oral ketoconazole, verapamil); and those with known hypersensitivity to dabigatran, dabigatran etexilate or any ingredient used in the formulation or component of the container. As of December 2012, dabigatran is contraindicated in patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves.

Dabigatran (Pradaxa, Prazaxa) is an anticoagulant medication that can be taken by mouth. FDA approved on October 19, 2010. Dabigatran directly inhibits thrombin in a concentration-dependent, reversible, specific, and competitive manner which results in a prolongation of aPTT (partial thromboplastin time), ECT (Ecarin clotting time), and TT (thrombin time). It may increase INR but this laboratory parameter is relatively insensitive to the activity of dabigatran. Dabigatran is indicated for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery (based on RE-NOVATE, RE-MODEL, and RE-MOBILIZE trials). In 2010, it was approved in the US and Canada for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (approval based on the RE-LY trial). Contraindications: severe renal impairment (CrCL < 30 ml/min); haemorrhagic manifestations, bleeding diathesis or spontaneous or pharmacologic impairment of haemostasis; lesions at risk of clinically significant bleeding (e.g. extensive cerebral infarction (haemorrhagic or ischemic) in the last 6 months, active peptic ulcer disease); concomitant treatment with P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g. oral ketoconazole, verapamil); and those with known hypersensitivity to dabigatran, dabigatran etexilate or any ingredient used in the formulation or component of the container. As of December 2012, dabigatran is contraindicated in patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves.

Fingolimod (FTY720) is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator indicated and approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Fingolimod (trade name Gilenya, Novartis) is metabolized by sphingosine kinase to the active metabolite, fingolimod-phosphate. Fingolimod-phosphate is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, and binds with high affinity to sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors 1, 3, 4, and 5. Fingolimod-phosphate blocks the capacity of lymphocytes to egress from lymph nodes, reducing the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood. The mechanism by which fingolimod exerts therapeutic effects in multiple sclerosis is unknown, but may involve reduction of lymphocyte migration into the central nervous system. Fingolimod was approved as a first-in-class, orally active drug for relapsing multiple sclerosis in 2010, and its applications in other disease conditions are currently under clinical trials.

Dabigatran (Pradaxa, Prazaxa) is an anticoagulant medication that can be taken by mouth. FDA approved on October 19, 2010. Dabigatran directly inhibits thrombin in a concentration-dependent, reversible, specific, and competitive manner which results in a prolongation of aPTT (partial thromboplastin time), ECT (Ecarin clotting time), and TT (thrombin time). It may increase INR but this laboratory parameter is relatively insensitive to the activity of dabigatran. Dabigatran is indicated for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery (based on RE-NOVATE, RE-MODEL, and RE-MOBILIZE trials). In 2010, it was approved in the US and Canada for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (approval based on the RE-LY trial). Contraindications: severe renal impairment (CrCL < 30 ml/min); haemorrhagic manifestations, bleeding diathesis or spontaneous or pharmacologic impairment of haemostasis; lesions at risk of clinically significant bleeding (e.g. extensive cerebral infarction (haemorrhagic or ischemic) in the last 6 months, active peptic ulcer disease); concomitant treatment with P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g. oral ketoconazole, verapamil); and those with known hypersensitivity to dabigatran, dabigatran etexilate or any ingredient used in the formulation or component of the container. As of December 2012, dabigatran is contraindicated in patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves.

Dabigatran (Pradaxa, Prazaxa) is an anticoagulant medication that can be taken by mouth. FDA approved on October 19, 2010. Dabigatran directly inhibits thrombin in a concentration-dependent, reversible, specific, and competitive manner which results in a prolongation of aPTT (partial thromboplastin time), ECT (Ecarin clotting time), and TT (thrombin time). It may increase INR but this laboratory parameter is relatively insensitive to the activity of dabigatran. Dabigatran is indicated for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery (based on RE-NOVATE, RE-MODEL, and RE-MOBILIZE trials). In 2010, it was approved in the US and Canada for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (approval based on the RE-LY trial). Contraindications: severe renal impairment (CrCL < 30 ml/min); haemorrhagic manifestations, bleeding diathesis or spontaneous or pharmacologic impairment of haemostasis; lesions at risk of clinically significant bleeding (e.g. extensive cerebral infarction (haemorrhagic or ischemic) in the last 6 months, active peptic ulcer disease); concomitant treatment with P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g. oral ketoconazole, verapamil); and those with known hypersensitivity to dabigatran, dabigatran etexilate or any ingredient used in the formulation or component of the container. As of December 2012, dabigatran is contraindicated in patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves.

Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation broad-spectrum cephalosporin with potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Ceftaroline is the bioactive metabolite of ceftaroline fosamil, an N-phosphonoamino water-soluble cephalosporin prodrug, which is rapidly converted in vivo upon the hydrolysis of the phosphonate group by plasma phosphatises. Ceftaroline fosamil is being developed by Forest Laboratories, under a license from Takeda. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ceftaroline fosamil for use in the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections as well as community-acquired pneumonia. Ceftaroline has bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, therefore serving as an attractive alternative agent for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia when approved agents are contraindicated or treatment failures have occurred. Like other β-lactams, ceftaroline’s mechanism of action is mediated by binding to the penicillin-binding protein (PBP), the enzyme mediating the cross-linking transpeptidation of the peptidoglycan which are the terminal steps in completing formation of the bacterial cell wall. MRSA strains have a mutated PBP2a which prohibits β-lactam antibiotics from accessing its active site that mediates the transpeptidation reaction. Ceftaroline possesses an ethoxyimino side-chain mimicking a portion of a cell wall structure, which acts as a “Trojan horse”, allosterically opening and facilitating access to the active site of the PBP2a. Based on clinical trial data to date, ceftaroline appears to be safe and well-tolerated. Since ceftaroline is a cephalosporin, it has caused serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients who are allergic to cephalosporins and among some patients with penicillin allergies.

Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation broad-spectrum cephalosporin with potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Ceftaroline is the bioactive metabolite of ceftaroline fosamil, an N-phosphonoamino water-soluble cephalosporin prodrug, which is rapidly converted in vivo upon the hydrolysis of the phosphonate group by plasma phosphatises. Ceftaroline fosamil is being developed by Forest Laboratories, under a license from Takeda. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ceftaroline fosamil for use in the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections as well as community-acquired pneumonia. Ceftaroline has bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, therefore serving as an attractive alternative agent for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia when approved agents are contraindicated or treatment failures have occurred. Like other β-lactams, ceftaroline’s mechanism of action is mediated by binding to the penicillin-binding protein (PBP), the enzyme mediating the cross-linking transpeptidation of the peptidoglycan which are the terminal steps in completing formation of the bacterial cell wall. MRSA strains have a mutated PBP2a which prohibits β-lactam antibiotics from accessing its active site that mediates the transpeptidation reaction. Ceftaroline possesses an ethoxyimino side-chain mimicking a portion of a cell wall structure, which acts as a “Trojan horse”, allosterically opening and facilitating access to the active site of the PBP2a. Based on clinical trial data to date, ceftaroline appears to be safe and well-tolerated. Since ceftaroline is a cephalosporin, it has caused serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients who are allergic to cephalosporins and among some patients with penicillin allergies.

Fingolimod (FTY720) is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator indicated and approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Fingolimod (trade name Gilenya, Novartis) is metabolized by sphingosine kinase to the active metabolite, fingolimod-phosphate. Fingolimod-phosphate is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, and binds with high affinity to sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors 1, 3, 4, and 5. Fingolimod-phosphate blocks the capacity of lymphocytes to egress from lymph nodes, reducing the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood. The mechanism by which fingolimod exerts therapeutic effects in multiple sclerosis is unknown, but may involve reduction of lymphocyte migration into the central nervous system. Fingolimod was approved as a first-in-class, orally active drug for relapsing multiple sclerosis in 2010, and its applications in other disease conditions are currently under clinical trials.