Eliglustat, marketed by Genzyme as CERDELGA, is a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor indicated for the long-term treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease who are CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers, intermediate metabolizers, or poor metabolizers (PMs) as detected by an FDA-cleared test.

Tavaborole is a boron-based pharmaceutical agent indicated for the topical treatment of toenail onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail and nail bed due to Trichophyton rubrum or Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection. Tavaborole acts by inhibiting an aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) synthetase (AARS) - Leucyl-tRNA synthetase. Leucyl-tRNA synthetase is an essential fungal enzyme required for protein synthesis and for the catalysis of ATP-dependent ligation of L-leucine to tRNA(Leu). Tavaborole’s low molecular weight (approximately half of most antifungals, such as terbinafine and efinaconazole) permits optimal nail plate penetration, superior to that of existing topical antifungal medications.

Suvorexant is a selective dual antagonist of orexin receptors OX1R and OX2R. It has been approved for the treatment of insomnia. The mechanism by which suvorexant exerts its therapeutic effect in insomnia is presumed to be through antagonism of orexin receptors. The orexin neuropeptide signaling system is a central promoter of wakefulness. Blocking the binding of wake-promoting neuropeptides orexin A and orexin B to receptors OX1R and OX2R is thought to suppress wake drive.

Macitentan is an orally active, dual endothelin receptor antagonist with tissue targeting properties. Macitentan inhibits both ETA and ETB receptors and prevents them from binding to ET-1. Macitentan displays high affinity and sustained occupancy of the ET receptors in human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells. One of the metabolites of macitentan is also pharmacologically active at the ET receptors and is estimated to be about 20% as potent as the parent drug in vitro. Macitentan is approved in the EU (as monotherapy or combination therapy) for the long-term treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults of WHO functional class II or III, and in the USA for the treatment of PAH (WHO group I) to delay disease progression and reduce hospitalization for PAH.

Vortioxetine is an antidepressant for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Vortioxetine’s mechanism of action is not fully understood. Vortioxetine binds with high affinity to the serotonin transporter and its antidepressant actions are believed to be secondary to enhancing serotonin in the central nervous system through inhibition of reuptake. Vortioxetine also displays binding affinities to other serotonin (5-HT) receptors, including 5-HT3, 5-HT1A, and 5-HT7. Due to multimodal neurotransmitter enhancer profile, it has been suggested that it might need lesser receptor occupancy rate for clinical trials than other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Since vortioxetine is an agonist and antagonist of multiple serotonin receptors, potential interactions may occur with other medications that alter the serotonergic pathways. There is an increased risk of serotonin syndrome when vortioxetine is used in combination with other serotonergic agents.

Trametinib is a reversible and specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases MEK1 and MEK2 which are involved in a RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and control cell growth, survival, and differentiation. By inhibiting MEK1 and MEK2 trametinib blocks dual phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and stops cell cycling. In addition, trametinib blocks BRAF pathway in the cells with BRAF V600E mutations. Trametinib (as a single agent and in combination with dabrafenib) is approved for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations.

Afatinib is a anilino-quinazoline derivative and irreversible antagonist of the receptor tyrosine kinase epidermal growth factor receptor family, with antineoplastic activity. Afatinib selectively and covalently binds to and inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptors 1 (ErbB1; EGFR), 2 (ErbB2; HER2), and 4 (ErbB4; HER4), and certain EGFR mutants, including those caused by EGFR exon 19 deletion mutations or exon 21 (L858R) mutations. This may result in the inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis in tumor cells overexpressing these kinases. Additionally, afatinib inhibits the EGFR T790M gatekeeper mutation which is resistant to treatment with first-generation EGFR inhibitors. EGFR, HER2 and HER4 are RTKs that belong to the EGFR superfamily; they play major roles in both tumor cell proliferation and tumor vascularization and are overexpressed in many cancer cell types. Afatinib is a substrate and an inhibitor of P-gp and of the transporter BCRP. Co-administration of P-gp inhibitors can increase afatinib exposure while co-administration of chronic P­gp inducers can decrease afatinib exposure.

Eslicarbazepine acetate is a third generation antiepileptic drug indicated for the treatment of partial-onset seizures. Structurally, it belongs to the dibenzazepine family and is closely related to carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine. Eslicarbazepine acetate was developed by scientists in Portugal. Its main mechanism of action is by blocking the voltage-gated sodium channel. Eslicarbazepine acetate is a pro-drug that is rapidly metabolized almost exclusively into eslicarbazepine (S-licarbazepine), the biologically active drug. It has a favorable pharmacokinetic and drug-drug interaction profile. However, it may induce the metabolism of oral contraceptives and should be used with caution in females of child-bearing age.

Umeclidinium (used as a bromide salt) is a long-acting, antimuscarinic antagonist, often referred to as an anticholinergic, developed for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (alone and in combination with Vilanterol - long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist). Umeclidinium has similar affinity to the subtypes of muscarinic receptors M1 to M5 with Ki values of 0.16 nM, 0.15 nM, 0.06 nM, 0.05 nM and 0.13 nM for M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5, respectively. Umeclidinium is selective against mAChR over other unrelated receptors or channels such as κ and σ opiod receptors, Na+ channel and dopamine transporter. In the airways, it exhibits pharmacological effects through the inhibition of M3 receptor at the smooth muscle leading to bronchodilation. There is potential for an additive interaction with concomitantly used anticholinergic medicines.

Omacetaxine mepesuccinate (trade name Synribo) formerly named as homoharringtonine or HHT, is a pharmaceutical drug substance that is indicated for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It is a natural ester of the alkaloid cephalotaxine from Cephalotaxus harringtonia, now manufactured by hemi-synthesis. It was approved by the US FDA in October 2012 for the treatment of adult patients with CML with resistance and/or intolerance to two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The mechanism of action of omacetaxine mepesuccinate has not been fully elucidated but includes inhibition of protein synthesis and is independent of direct Bcr-Abl binding. Omacetaxine mepesuccinate binds to the A-site cleft in the peptidyl-transferase center of the large ribosomal subunit from a strain of archaeabacteria. In vitro, omacetaxine mepesuccinate reduced protein levels of the Bcr Abl oncoprotein and Mcl-1, an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member. Omacetaxine mepesuccinate showed activity in mouse models of wild-type and T315I mutated Bcr-Abl CML.