Iguratimod, a methanesulfonanilide, is an anti-inflammatory drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that has been developed exclusively in Japan and China. It inhibits the production of immunoglobulins and various inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1, -6 and -8 and TNF), and exerts anabolic effects on bone metabolism by stimulating osteoblastic differentiation and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. On the molecular level, it inhibits the nuclear transcription factor NF-κB but not its inhibitor, IκBα. In addition to these immunomodulatory and other long-lasting effects, iguratimod inhibits cyclooxygenase-2, which provides a synergistic short-term action against pain and inflammation. Efficacy and tolerability are comparable to salazosulfapyridine, and probably also to methotrexate. Combination with methotrexate is synergistic in patients with insufficient response to methotrexate and does not significantly increase adverse events.

Acotiamide (Acofide(®)), an oral first-in-class prokinetic drug, is under global development by Zeria Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd and Astellas Pharma Inc. for the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia. The drug modulates upper gastrointestinal motility to alleviate abdominal symptoms resulting from hypomotility and delayed gastric emptying. It exerts its activity in the stomach via muscarinic receptor inhibition, resulting in enhanced acetylcholine release and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. Acofide® is launched in Japan for treating functional dyspepsia.

Flunarizine is a selective calcium entry blocker with calmodulin binding properties and histamine H1 / dopamine D2 blocking activity. It is not available in the US but marketed in other countries for prophylaxis of a migraine, occlusive peripheral vascular disease, the vertigo of central and peripheral origin, motion sickness and as an adjuvant in the therapy of epilepsy. The drug is also investigated for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Deltamethrin (DLM) is a pyrethroid insecticide and veterinary treatment that is approved for use in the EU, Australia and the USA. It has a low aqueous solubility, is semi-volatile and has a low potential to leach to groundwater. It is not persistent in soil and is non-mobile. Deltamethrin is highly toxic to humans and other mammals and is a neurotoxin. It is relatively non-toxic to birds and earthworms although it presents a high risk to most aquatic organisms and honeybees. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the deltamethrin have the potential to induce apoptogenic signaling pathways which plays an important role in the mechanism of anticancer action. Thus, deltamethrin thereof could have the potential to develop as an anticancer agent.

Azelnidipine (INN; marketed under the brand name CalBlock) is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. It is sold in Japan by Daiichi-Sankyo pharmaceuticals, Inc. Azelnidipine is a new dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist with selectivity for both L-type and T-type Ca channels. It has recently been approved in Japan for the treatment of patients with hypertension. Results from clinical trials showed that long-term treatment with azelnidipine effectively controls blood pressure (BP) in a cohort of 95 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. The antihypertensive efficacy of azelnidipine in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension was shown to be similar to that of amlodipine or nitrendipine in a randomised double-blind study. Azelnidipine and amlodipine controlled 24-hour BP to a similar extent. Azelnidipine is generally well tolerated. Vasodilator adverse events such as headache and hot facial flushes account for most of the adverse events. Its use is not associated with reflex tachycardia.

Mexazolam (trade names Melex and Sedoxil) is indicated for the management of anxiety with or without psychoneurotic conditions. In adult patients, the recommended daily dosage of mexazolam is 1-3 mg, administered three times daily. Mexazolam is metabolised via the CYP3A4 pathway.

Dimemorfan is a nonnarcotic antitussive drug. The antitussive action of dimemorfan appears to be directly on the cough center in the medulla.

Clebopride is a dopamine antagonist drug. It is used to treat functional gastrointestinal disorder such as nausea or vomiting. Unchanged parent drug was the most abundant compound in human urine. Major metabolites included the hydroxylation at benzyl group to yield carbinolamine and its further N-dealkylation product, and the piperidine ring hydroxylation/oxidation metabolite (a lactam).

Ilaprazole or IY-81149 (2-[(4-methoxy-3-methyl)-2-pyridinyl]methylsulfinyl -5-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1H-benzimidazole, CAS 172152-36-2) is a proton pump inhibitor. Ilaprazole revealed the characteristics as a strong proton pump inhibitor, and its potency against gastric acid secretion was superior to that of the reference drug, omeprazole. Ilaprazole is approved in China and South Korea for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disorders (GERD), dyspepsia and peptic ulcers. Recently it was discovered that ilaprazole inhibited the cancer growth by targeting T-cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) both in vitro and in vivo.

Trichlormethine is a nitrogen mustard vesicant that has application in chemical warfare and has been used as a cytostatic alkylating agent in leukemia and lymphoma therapy. Trichlormethine was tested for carcinogenicity by subcutaneous injection in mice and rats. The study in mice was inadequate for evaluation. In rats, trichlormethine induced a high incidence of sarcomas (mostly spindle-cell type) in animals of each sex at the site of subcutaneous injection, as well as a few intestinal adenocarcinomas; neither tumor type was seen in controls. Trichlormethine caused vomiting, anorexia and blood-containing feces in dogs a few hours after a single intravenous injection of 1 mg/kg BW. Decreased peripheral lymphocyte counts were observed in rabbits injected intravenously and in mice injected subcutaneously with trichlormethine. Trichlormethine was tested for carcinogenicity by subcutaneous injection in mice and rats. ln rats, trichlormethine induced a high incidence of sarcomas (mostly spindle-cell type) in animals of each sex at the site of subcutaneous injection, as well as a few intestinal adenocarcinomas; neither tumor type was seen in controls. Trichlormethine is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).