Abametapir is a newly FDA-approved, single-application treatment for head lice in patients aged 6 months and older. Abametapir chelates heavy metal cations and inhibits metalloproteinases critical to louse ova development, hatching, and adult survival. Abametapir lotion, 0.74%, demonstrated significant ovicidal activity against head lice eggs with a single application.

GBT440 (previously GTx011) is a potent and direct drug for sickle cell treatment. In sickle cell anemia, abnormal hemoglobin molecules are formed, which causes problems for the flow of blood and oxygen through the body. GBT440 can selectively bind to hemoglobin, thereby increasing its affinity for oxygen. By inhibiting hemoglobin polymerization, it also prevents deformation of the red blood cells. GBT440, renamed Voxelotor, is thought to help prevent sickle cells blocking blood vessels, and therefore reduces pain (sickle cell crisis) experienced by patients. GBT440 is well absorbed following intravenous and oral administration, and quickly partitions into the red blood cell with a small part re‐distributed into the plasma. GBT440 was well tolerated in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, double blind, parallel group phase I/II study in healthy volunteers and sickle cell disease patients. Headache is the most reported adverse event related to the use of this drug, and no serious adverse events are known. A phase 3 clinical trial examining the efficacy and safety of the drug (compared to placebo) is planned to be completed in 2019. Voxelotor was also studied as a potential therapy for treatment of low oxygen levels in the blood of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients, but this program was discontinued because of a lack of clinical benefits.

Allopregnanolone is a neurosteroid metabolite of progesterone. It is an allosteric modulator of inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA-A) receptors on neural stem cells and other cell types in the brain. Allopregnanolone has effects similar to those of other positive allosteric modulators of the GABA action at GABAA receptor such as the benzodiazepines, including anxiolytic, sedative, and anticonvulsant activity. A solution of allopregnanolone, SAGE-547 is an intravenous allosteric modulator of both synaptic and extrasynaptic γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA)receptors. It's believed that allopregnanolone is effective as an anticonvulsant when prolonged seizure activity has become resistant to benzodiazepine treatment. Under the names brexanolone and SAGE-547, allopregnanolone is under development by SAGE Therapeutics as an intravenously administered drug for the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus, postpartum depression, and essential tremor. Allopregnanolone is in phase III trials for the treatment of super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) and postpartum depression.

Rifamycin SV is a derivative of antibiotic rifamycin B (the natural fermentation product of S. mediterranei broths). The primary target of rifampicin on whole bacteria is the synthesis of RNA. Rifamycin belongs to the ansamycin class of antibacterial drugs and acts by inhibiting the beta subunit of the bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, blocking one of the steps in DNA transcription. This results in inhibition of bacterial synthesis and consequently growth of bacteria. Rifampicin exhibits bactericidal activity on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and on mycobacteria. Rifamycin SV MMX® (AEMCOLO), a non-absorbable rifamycin antibiotic formulated using the multi-matrix system, was designed to exhibit its pharmacological action on the distal small intestine and colon. AEMCOLO is indicated for the treatment of travelers’ diarrhea (TD) caused by non-invasive strains of Escherichia coli in adults.

Copanlisib, developed by Bayer, is a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor with potential antineoplastic activity. Copanlisib inhibits the activation of the PI3K signaling pathway, which may result in inhibition of tumor cell growth and survival in susceptible tumor cell populations. Activation of the PI3K signaling pathway is frequently associated with tumorigenesis and dysregulated PI3K signaling may contribute to tumor resistance to a variety of antineoplastic agents. Copanlisib is currently under Phase II/III clinical trials for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Lesinurad (brand name Zurampic) is a urate transporter inhibitor for treating hyperuricemia associated with gout in patients who have not achieved target serum uric acid levels with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor alone. In gout patients, Lesinurad lowered serum uric acid levels and increased renal clearance and fractional excretion of uric acid. Following single and multiple oral doses of Lesinurad to gout patients, dose-dependent decreases in serum uric acid levels and increases in urinary uric acid excretion were observed. Lesinurad reduces serum uric acid levels by inhibiting the function of transporter proteins involved in uric acid reabsorption in the kidney. Lesinurad inhibited the function of two apical transporters responsible for uric acid reabsorption, uric acid transporter 1 (URAT1) and organic anion transporter 4 (OAT4), with IC50 values of 7.3 and 3.7 µM, respectively. URAT1 is responsible for the majority of the reabsorption of filtered uric acid from the renal tubular lumen. OAT4 is a uric acid transporter associated with diuretic-induced hyperuricemia. Lesinurad does not interact with the uric acid reabsorption transporter SLC2A9 (Glut9), located on the basolateral membrane of the proximal tubule cell. Based on in vitro studies, lesinurad is an inhibitor of OATP1B1, OCT1, OAT1, and OAT3; however, lesinurad is not an in vivo inhibitor of these transporters. In vivo drug interaction studies indicate that lesinurad does not decrease the renal clearance of furosemide (substrate of OAT1/3), or affect the exposure of atorvastatin (substrate of OATP1B1) or metformin (substrate of OCT1). Based on in vitro studies, lesinurad has no relevant effect on P-glycoprotein.

Panobinostat is an oral deacetylace (DAC) inhibitor approved on February 23, 2015 by the FDA for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The approval was accelerated based on progression-free survival, therefore confirmatory trials by the sponsor to demonstrate clinical efficacy in multiple myeloma treatment are in progress of being conducted. Panobinostat is marketed by Novartis under the brand name Farydak. Panobinostat is a deacetylase (DAC) inhibitor. DACs, also known as histone DACs (HDAC), are responsible for regulating the acetylation of about 1750 proteins in the body; their functions are involved in many biological processes including DNA replication and repair, chromatin remodelling, transcription of genes, progression of the cell-cycle, protein degradation and cytoskeletal reorganization. In multiple myeloma, there is an overexpression of DAC proteins. Panobinostat inhibits class I (HDACs 1, 2, 3, 8), class II (HDACs 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10) and class IV (HDAC 11) proteins. Panobinostat's antitumor activity is believed to be attributed to epigenetic modulation of gene expression and inhibition of protein metabolism. Panobinostat also exhibits cytotoxic synergy with bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor concurrently used in treatment of multiple myeloma.

Vorapaxar is a tricyclic himbacine-derived oral thrombin receptor antagonist that acts by reversible inhibition of the protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1). PAR-1 is expressed on platelets and its inhibition prevents platelets from aggregation. Vorapaxar is approved by FDA and is indicated for the reduction of recurring thrombotic cardiovascular events in patients with a history of myocardial infarction or with peripheral arterial disease. Vorapaxar at the same time may cause bleeding complications including intracranial haemorrhage (ICH), when compared to standard therapy alone. That is why Vorapaxar is contraindicated in patients with prior stroke, transient ischemic attack and ICH.

Boceprevir (trade name Victrelis) is first-generation, selective, small molecule inhibitor of the non-structural serine protease (NS3) and NS4A polypeptide complex (NS3/NS4A) and is a direct acting antiviral drug against the hepatitis C virus. It is indicated the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adult patients (18 years of age and older) with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis, who are previously untreated or who have failed previous interferon and ribavirin therapy. Boceprevir is not approved as a monotherapy. Upon administration, boceprevir reversibly binds to the active center of the HCV NS3/NS4A and prevents NS3/NS4A protease-mediated polyprotein maturation. This disrupts the processing of viral proteins and the formation of a viral replication complex, which inhibits viral replication in HCV genotrype 1-infected host cells. NS3, a serine protease, is essential for the proteolytic cleavages within the HCV polyprotein and plays a key role during HCV viral RNA replication. NS4A is an activating factor for NS3.

Valdecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, is classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Valdecoxib was manufactured and marketed under the brand name Bextra. Bextra was indicated for relief of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis. For the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. But in 2005 FDA requested that Pfizer withdraw Bextra from the American market, because the Agency had concluded that the overall risk versus benefit profile of Bextra was unfavorable. That conclusion was based on the potential increased risk for serious cardiovascular (CV) adverse events, an increased risk of serious skin reactions (e.g., toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme) compared to other NSAIDs, and the fact that Bextra had not been shown to offer any unique advantages over the other available NSAIDs.