Carglumic acid is a Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase 1 (CPS 1) allosteric modulator. CPS1 is found in the mitochondria and is the first enzyme of the urea cycle, which converts ammonia into urea. Carglumic acid acts as a replacement for NAG in NAGS deficiency patients by activating CPS1 but it does not help to regulate the urea cycle. Carglumic acid under the trade name Carbaglu indicated as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia due to the deficiency of the hepatic enzyme N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS). In addition, as maintenance therapy for the treatment of chronic hyperammonemia due to the deficiency of the hepatic enzyme N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS). This rare genetic disorder results in elevated blood levels of ammonia, which can eventually cross the blood–brain barrier and cause neurologic problems, cerebral edema, coma, and death.

Ceftaroline fosamil is a 5th generation cephalosporin with an in vitro spectrum of activity including Streptococcus agalactiae, penicillin- and cephalosporin-resistant S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella oxytoca, K. pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Ceftaroline fosamil (TAK-599 or PPI-0903), the prodrug of the active metabolite, ceftaroline, was synthesized by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd and developed by Cerexa, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, Inc. It is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) in adults. Ceftaroline fosamil is marketed under the brand name TEFLARO®, indicated in adult and pediatric patients 2 months of age and older for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible isolates of the following Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-susceptible and ‑resistant isolates), Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella oxytoca. TEFLARO is also indicated in adult and pediatric patients 2 months of age and older for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) caused by susceptible isolates of the following Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms: Streptococcus pneumoniae (including cases with concurrent bacteremia), Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible isolates only), Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Escherichia coli. Ceftaroline provides in vitro bactericidal activity against methicillin-, vancomycin-, daptomycin-, and linezolid-resistant Gram-positive organisms and select Gram-negative pathogens. The pharmacodynamics of ceftaroline is similar to other β-lactam agents. Ceftaroline exhibits a favorable adverse effect profile and is generally well tolerated. The bactericidal action of ceftaroline is mediated through binding to essential penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Ceftaroline is bactericidal against S. aureus due to its affinity for PBP2a and against Streptococcus pneumoniae due to its affinity for PBP2x.

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.

Lurasidone is a novel antipsychotic agent approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in a number of countries including the UK and is also approved in the USA and Canada for the treatment of bipolar depression as either a monotherapy or adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate. In addition, lurasidone is in phase III of a clinical trial for the treatment patient with major depressive disorder and for the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder. The mechanism of action of lurasidone, as with other drugs having efficacy in schizophrenia, is unknown but is known, that lurasidone has a high affinity for dopamine D2, serotonin 5-HT2A and serotonin 5-HT7 receptors where it has antagonist effects. In addition, lurasidone is a partial agonist at the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor and has no appreciable affinity for histamine or muscarinic receptors.

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.

Everolimus is a derivative of Rapamycin (sirolimus), it is a mTOR inhibitor that binds with high affinity to the FK506 binding protein-12 (FKBP-12), thereby forming a drug complex that inhibits the activation of mTOR. This inhibition reduces the activity of effectors downstream, which leads to a blockage in the progression of cells from G1 into S phase, and subsequently inducing cell growth arrest and apoptosis. Everolimus also inhibits the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor, leading to a decrease in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. The result of everolimus inhibition of mTOR is a reduction in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and glucose uptake. Everolimus is indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer (advanced HR+ BC) in combination with exemestane, after failure of treatment with letrozole or anastrozole. Indicated for the treatment of adult patients with progressive neuroendocrine tumors of pancreatic origin (PNET) with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease. Indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after failure of treatment with sunitinib or sorafenib. Indicated for the treatment of adult patients with renal angiomyolipoma and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), not requiring immediate surgery. Indicated in pediatric and adult patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) for the treatment of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) that requires therapeutic intervention but cannot be curatively resected. Everolimus is marketed by Novartis under the tradenames Zortress (USA) and Certican (Europe and other countries) in transplantation medicine, and as Afinitor (general tumours) and Votubia (tumours as a result of TSC) in oncology. Everolimus is also available from Biocon, with the brand name Evertor, from Natco Pharma, with the brand name Temonat, from Ranbaxy Laboratories, with the brand name of Imozide, from Emcure Pharmaceuticals, with the brand name of Temcure, among over 20 different brands.

Pitavastatin is a new synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) inhibitor, which was developed, and has been available in Japan since July 2003. Metabolism of pitavastatin by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system is minimal, principally through CYP 2C9, with little involvement of the CYP 3A4 isoenzyme, potentially reducing the risk of drug-drug interactions between pitavastatin and other drugs known to inhibit CYP enzymes. To date, human and animal studies have shown pitavastatin to be potentially as effective in lowering LDL-cholesterol levels as rosuvastatin. Pitavastatin under the trade name Livalo is indicated as an adjunctive therapy to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), triglycerides (TG), and to increase HDL-C in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. Pitavastatin competitively inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, which is a rate-determining enzyme involved with biosynthesis of cholesterol, in a manner of competition with the substrate so that it inhibits cholesterol synthesis in the liver. As a result, the expression of LDL-receptors followed by the uptake of LDL from blood to liver is accelerated and then the plasma TC decreases. Further, the sustained inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in the liver decreases levels of very low density lipoproteins. Common statin-related side effects (headaches, stomach upset, abnormal liver function tests and muscle cramps) were similar to other statins.

Artemether is an antimalarial agent used to treat acute uncomplicated malaria. It is administered in combination with lumefantrine for improved efficacy against malaria. Artemether is rapidly metabolized into an active metabolite dihydroartemisinin (DHA). The antimalarial activity of artemether and DHA has been attributed to endoperoxide moiety. Artemethe involves an interaction with ferriprotoporphyrin IX (“heme”), or ferrous ions, in the acidic parasite food vacuole, which results in the generation of cytotoxic radical species. The generally accepted mechanism of action of peroxide antimalarials involves interaction of the peroxide-containing drug with heme, a hemoglobin degradation byproduct, derived from proteolysis of hemoglobin. This interaction is believed to result in the formation of a range of potentially toxic oxygen and carbon-centered radicals. Other mechanisms of action for artemether include their ability to reduce fever by production of signals to hypothalamus thermoregulatory center. Now, recent research has shown the presence of a new, previously unknown cyclooxygenase enzyme COX-3, found in the brain and spinal cord, which is selectively inhibited by artemether, and is distinct from the two already known cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-1 and COX-2. It is now believed that this selective inhibition of the enzyme COX-3 in the brain and spinal cord explains the ability of artemether in relieving pain and reducing fever which is produced by malaria. The most common adverse reactions in adults (>30%) are headache, anorexia, dizziness, asthenia, arthralgia and myalgia.

Pazopanib (VOTRIENT) is an orally bioavailable multi-targeted tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor. Pazopanib inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-α and -β, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) -1 and -3, cytokine receptor (Kit), interleukin-2 receptor inducible T-cell kinase (Itk), leukocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck), and transmembrane glycoprotein receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Fms). In an vitro study, pazopanib exerted anti-tumor effect through mechanisms including the Raf-MAPK/ERK (MEK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. It has good oral exposure and inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth in mice. Pazopanib (VOTRIENT) was developed by GlaxoSmithKline for the treatment of solid tumours and age-related macular degeneration. However, Novartis acquired all the rights to the drug from GlaxoSmithKline. Pazopanib (VOTRIENT) is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma and advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

Pralatrexate (PDX or 10-propargyl-10-deazaaminopterin) is a folate analogue that is internalised by the reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC-1) protein, and polyglutamylated by the enzyme folylpolyglutamyl synthetase (FPGS), resulting in accumulation of the antifolate. Pralatrexate, a methotrexate analogue, is intended as an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), an enzyme which catalyses the reduction of dihydrofolic acid to tetrahydrofolic acid. Inhibition of DHFR leads to a depletion of intracellular reduced folate stores, thereby leading to a disruption of DNA synthesis. Preclinical studies in vitro and in models of B-cell lymphomas, T-cell lymphomas and NSCLC indicated that pralatrexate exhibited antitumor activity that was superior to the activity of other antifolates. FOLOTYN (pralatrexate injection) is indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma.