LEFAMULIN is a pleuromutilin antibiotic under development for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, as well as acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. It inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the peptidyl transferase center of the 50S ribosome, resulting in the cessation of bacterial growth.

Entrectinib (previously known as RXDX-101, NMS-E628) is an investigational drug, potent inhibitor of ALK, ROS1, and, importantly, of TRK family kinases, which shows promise for therapy of tumors bearing oncogenic forms of these proteins. Entrectinib (RXDX-101) is a selective inhibitor for all three Trk receptor tyrosine kinases encoded by the three NTRK genes, as well as the ROS1 and ALKreceptor tyrosine kinases.This investigational drug is active at low nanomolar concentrations, allowing for once-daily oral administration to patients whose tumors have been shown to have gene rearrangements in NTRK, ROS1, or ALK. Nerviano Medical Sciences, the original sponsor for entrectinib (formerly referred to as NMS-1191372), initiated the first-in-human Phase 1 study ALKA-372-001 in Italy in October 2012. The study is currently ongoing in Italy. Entrectinib is currently being tested in a global phase 2 basket clinical trial called STARTRK-2. In the U.S., entrectinib has orphan drug designation and rare pediatric disease designation for the treatment of neuroblastoma and orphan drug designation for treatment of TrkA-, TrkB-, TrkC-, ROS1- and ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

ADX-N05, originally discovered by SK Holdings, is a selective dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (DNRI). ADX-N05 (Solriamfetol, sold under the brand name Sunosi) is approved in the US and is under regulatory review in the EU to improve wakefulness in adult patients with hypersomnia associated with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnoea.The US FDA has approved solriamfetol (Sunosi, Jazz Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea.The dual-acting dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor is approved for narcolepsy in once-daily 75 mg and 150 mg doses, and in obstructive sleep apnea in once-daily 37.5 mg, 75 mg, and 150 mg doses.

Alpelisib (BYL719) is a PI3Kα-selective inhibitor. PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway is frequently activated in cancer, therefore investigational PI3K inhibitor alpelisib is considered to be effective as an anticancer agent and has been in clinical development by Novartis. Alpelisib have demonstrated activity in preclinical models of solid tumors and had favorable tolerability profiles, with the most common adverse events consistent with “on-target” inhibition of PI3K in early clinical studies. There are ongoing clinical trials of alpelisib in a range of cancer types, including breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, lymphoma, and glioblastoma multiforme. Combination therapy with other chemo therapeutics may be preferable.

Ubrogepant, a small molecule drug, is being developed by Merck & Co for the treatment of migraine. The calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRP) antagonist is administered orally as a film coated tablet. Ubrogepant is a competitive antagonist with high affinity, potency, and selectivity for the human CGRP receptor. In the four clinical studies (ACHIEVE I, ACHIEVE II, UBR-MD-04 and 3110-105-002) ubrogepant demonstrated efficacy, safety and tolerability in the acute treatment of migraine among a broad patient population, including those who had an insufficient response to a triptan or those patients in whom triptans were contraindicated, as well as in patients who had moderate to severe CV risk profile.

Tenapanor is an inhibitor of the sodium-proton (Na(+)/H(+)) exchanger NHE3 and reduces sodium absorption in the GI tract, thus increasing intestinal fluid. Ardelyx has completed Phase 3 development of tenapanor for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with IBS-C. In addition, tenapanor successfully completed phase III clinical trial for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in people with end-stage renal disease who are on dialysis and RDX013, a potassium secretagogue program for the potential treatment of high potassium, or hyperkalemia, a problem among certain patients with kidney and/or heart disease.

Pretomanid (PA-824) is an experimental anti-tuberculosis drug. Pretomanid is a bicyclic nitroimidazole-like molecule with a very complex mechanism of action. It is active against both replicating and hypoxic, non-replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis. As a potential TB therapy, it has many attractive characteristics - most notably its novel mechanism of action, its activity in vitro against all tested drug-resistant clinical isolates, and its activity as both a potent bactericidal and a sterilizing agent in mice. In addition, the compound shows no evidence of mutagenicity in a standard battery of genotoxicity studies, no significant cytochrome P450 interactions, and no significant activity against a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This compound has been developed by TB Alliance and is a potential cornerstone of future TB and drug-resistant TB treatment regimens. It is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials.

Pitolisant (INN) or tiprolisant (USAN) is a histamine receptor inverse agonist/antagonist selective for the H3 subtype. It has stimulant and nootropic effects in animal studies and may have several medical applications, having been researched for the treatment of narcolepsy, for which it has been granted orphan drug status in the EU and US. It is currently in clinical trials for schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. Pitolisant hydrochloride was approved by European Medicine Agency (EMA) on Mar 31, 2016. It was developed and marketed as Wakix® by Bioprojet in EU. Wakix® is available as the tablet for oral use, containing 4.5 mg and 18 mg of Pitolisant hydrochloride. The initial dose of 9 mg (two 4.5 mg, tablets) per day, and it should be used at the lowest effective dose, depending on individual patient response and tolerance, according to an up-titration scheme, without exceeding the dose of 36 mg/day. Pitolisant was the first clinically used H3 receptor inverse agonist.

Cenobamate (also known as YKP3089) is a small molecule sodium channel blocker in development for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adult patients. In mice and rats, Cenobamate displayed an anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock test and prevented seizures induced by chemical convulsants such as pentylenetetrazol and picrotoxin. In addition, Cenobamate was reported to be effective in two models of focal seizure, the hippocampal kindled rat and the mouse 6 Hz psychomotor seizure models. Two completed adequate and well-controlled clinical studies demonstrated a significant reduction in focal seizures with Cenobamate in patients with epilepsy, and a long-term open-label phase 3 safety clinical trial is currently ongoing. Cenobamate is considered a new generation antiepileptic therapy and clinical trials have shown that it may be more effective and safer than existing drugs. If licensed, Cenobamate will offer a new adjunctive treatment option for patients with partial focal epilepsy.

Lemborexant is a dual orexin receptor antagonist, which inhibits orexin by binding competitively to two subtypes of orexin receptors. During normal periods of sleep, orexin system activity is suppressed, suggesting it is possible to purposefully facilitate the initiation and maintenance of sleep by interfering with orexin neurotransmission with lemborexant. Extensive in vitro and non-clinical testing of lemborexant supported the supposition that lemborexant has a low risk of QT prolongation at therapeutic and supratherapeutic exposures in humans. A Phase III study of lemborexant in insomnia is underway, and in addition, Eisai has announced the initiation of Phase II clinical studies of lemborexant in patients with irregular sleep-wake rhythm disorder.