Cefodizime is a third-generation cephalosporin with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Administered intravenously or intramuscularly 1 to 4 g of cefodizime daily for an average of 7 to 10 days produces a clinical cure in 80 to 100% of patients (adults, elderly or children) with upper or lower respiratory tract infections or urinary tract infections. In comparative trials cefodizime was as effective as other third generation cephalosporins. A single dose of cefodizime (1 or 2 g) is also useful in treating lower urinary tract infections. Urogenital gonorrhoea, whether caused by beta-lactamase producing or non-beta-lactamase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is very effectively treated by single dose therapy with intramuscular cefodizime. Preliminary data from a small number of patients indicates that cefodizime may also be useful in the treatment of otitis media, sinusitis and gynaecological infections, and for the prophylaxis or treatment of surgical infections. The clinical efficacy of cefodizime compared to other third generation cephalosporins is superior to that predicted from in vitro results. This superior activity of cefodizime may be related to the relatively long elimination half-life of the drug or its ability to modify some functions of the immune system--a potentially important finding awaiting further investigation. Cefodizime is well tolerated and has a tolerability profile similar to other members of its class with systemic adverse events being primarily gastrointestinal or dermatological. Cefodizime may be more convenient to administer than some other agents of its class as it may be given once or twice daily. While there are no trials comparing cefodizime to other third generation cephalosporins in immunosuppressed populations, preliminary information indicates cefodizime may be useful in this group. Cefodizime targets penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) 1A/B, 2, and 3 resulting in the eventual death of the bacterial cell. In vivo experimental models of infection showed that bacterial clearance by this drug is at least as effective compared with other 3rd generation cephalosporins. It has a similar adverse effect profile to other 3rd generation cephalosporins which is mainly being limited to gastrointestinal or dermatological side effects. It is not currently approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

Bekanamycin is an aminoglycoside and is a congener of kanamycin. It is given topically as the sulfate for the treatment of eye infections. It is reported to be more toxic than kanamycin A. Antibiotic complex produced by Streptomyces kanamyceticus Okami & Umezawa from Japanese soil. There are no known interactions with other drugs.

Josamycin is a macrolide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces narbonensis var. josamyceticus. Macrolides are inhibitors of protein synthesis. They impair the elongation cycle of the peptidyl chain by specifically binding to the 50S subunit of the ribosome. Josamycin has antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of pathogens. It is similar to erythromycin, but does not induce macrolide resistance in staphylococci and appears to have a lower incidence of gastrointestinal side effects. Josamycin is under investigation in US.

Elliptinium is an antineoplastic agent, which was used in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in France under the name Celiptium. The drug is known to intercalate into DNA and inhibit topoisomerase II. Several studies have demonstrated that this molecule can be oxidized, yielding a reactive electrophilic form, which is able to bind covalently to a nucleophilic biological molecule.

Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), an endogenous intermediary metabolite in the Krebs cycle, is a molecule involved in multiple metabolic and cellular pathways. As an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, AKG is essential for the oxidation of fatty acids, amino acids, and glucose. Extracellular AKG is a significant source of energy for cells of the gastrointestinal tract. As a precursor for the synthesis of glutamate and glutamine in multiple tissues (including liver, skeletal muscle, heart, brain, and white adipose tissue), AKG bridges carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism for both conservation of amino acids and ammonia detoxification. Additionally, emerging evidence shows that AKG is a regulator of gene expression and cell signaling pathways (including the mammalian target of rapamycin and AMPactivated protein kinase). Thus, AKG is an attractive dietary supplement in animal and human nutrition to improve cellular energy status, immunity, and health.AKG can decrease protein catabolism and increase protein synthesis to enhance bone tissue formation in the skeletal muscles and can be used in clinical applications. In addition to these health benefits, a recent study has shown that AKG can extend the lifespan of adult Caenorhabditis elegans by inhibiting ATP synthase and TOR. Orally, AKG is used for kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, bacterial overgrowth, intestinal toxemia, liver dysfunction, and chronic candidiasis. It is also used for improving peak athletic performance, improving amino acid metabolism in hemodialysis patients, and cataracts. Intravenously, AKG is used for preventing ischemic injury during heart surgery, improving renal blood flow after heart surgery, and preventing muscle protein depletion after surgery or trauma.

Distigmine is an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. Distigmine shows direct binding to muscarinic receptors in the rat bladder, and repeated oral administration of distigmine causes downregulation of muscarinic receptors in the rat bladder. The observed direct interaction of distigmine with the bladder muscarinic receptors may partly contribute to the therapeutic and/or side effects seen in the treatment of detrusor underactivity. It is usually used to treat myasthenia gravis, dysuria due to hypotonic bladder such as neurogenic bladder or after surgery. Common side effects are: nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, increased salivation, hypersecretion in respiratory tract, sweating, bradycardia, miosis, difficulty in breathing. Distigmine has a greater risk of causing cholinergic crisis because of accumulation of the drug being more likely than with neostigmine or pyridostigmine and so distigmine is rarely used as a treatment for myasthenia gravis, unlike pyridostigmine and neostigmine.

Glymidine (Glycodiazine ) is a hypoglycaemic agent which has been introduced as a possible alternative to the sulphonylurea as and biguanides for the oral treatment of diabetes mellitus. It is one of a group of lipid soluble sulphapyrimidine derivatives synthesized by Gutsche et al. and bears some structural resemlance to tolbutamide. Its mode of action is similar to that of the sulphonylureas in that it appears to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas. Glycodiazine likely binds to ATP-sensitive potassium channel receptors on the pancreatic cell surface, reducing potassium conductance and causing depolarization of the membrane. Membrane depolarization stimulates calcium ion influx through voltage-sensitive calcium channels. This increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration induces the secretion of insulin. It is used for the concomitant use with insulin for the treatment of noninsulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes mellitus. Glycodiazine is used concomitantly with insulin for the treatment of noninsulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes mellitus.

Astromicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic produced by Micromonospora spp. It is effective against major gram-negative bacterias such as Proteus, Serratia, Citrobacter, Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Astromicin sulfate has been given by intramuscular injection or intravenous infusion. Side effects are: rash, urticaria, itch, erythema, fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Combination with strong diuretics can cause nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.

Iodine-labeled ioglycamic acid (Bilivistan or Biligram) has been used as a contrast medium for intravenous cholangiocystography.

Almitrine, a selective pulmonary vasoconstrictor and a respiratory stimulant that enhances respiration by acting as an agonist of peripheral chemoreceptors located on the carotid bodies. The drug increases arterial oxygen tension while decreasing arterial carbon dioxide tension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In combination with raubasine, it used under the brand, name Duxil for the treatment of age-related cerebral disorders and functional rehabilitation after stroke. In addition, Duxil has been considered as an alternative treatment for dementia, but because of the low methodological quality of included trials and the small number of trials, the obtained data did not provide sufficient evidence to support the routine use of this drug for the disease.