Clocortolone (used in form of pivalate prodrug) is a topical glucocorticoid that was approved by FDA for the treatment of corticosteroid-responsive skin disorders. The drug exerts its anti-inflammatory action by binding to glucocorticoid receptor which results in regulation of the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and further antiproliferative, immunosuppressive, and initial vasoconstrictive effects.

Vidarabine or 9-β-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (ara-A, trade name Vira-A) is a synthetic purine nucleoside analog with in vitro and in vivo inhibitory activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1), 2 (HSV-2), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The inhibitory activity of Vidarabine is highly selective due to its affinity for the enzyme thymidine kinase (TK) encoded by HSV and VZV. This viral enzyme converts Vidarabine into Vidarabine monophosphate, a nucleotide analog. The monophosphate is further converted into diphosphate by cellular guanylate kinase and into triphosphate by a number of cellular enzymes. in vitro, Vidarabine triphosphate stops replication of herpes viral DNA. When used as a substrate for viral DNA polymerase, Vidarabine triphosphate competitively inhibits dATP leading to the formation of 'faulty' DNA. This is where Vidarabine triphosphate is incorporated into the DNA strand replacing many of the adenosine bases. This results in the prevention of DNA synthesis, as phosphodiester bridges can longer to be built, destabilizing the strand.

Halcinonide is one of the available highly potent topical cor¬ticosteroids. It is a derivative of hydrocortisone and contains important modifications in its structure that alter its absorption, potency, and adverse effects compared with hydrocortisone. Halcinonide—along with desoximetasone, betamethasone, fluocinonide, and diflorasone diacetate—is classified as a Class II potency corticosteroid. Although similar in strength, halcinonide in Halog (the only topical product available that contains halcinonide) differs from many other compounds of this class in the formulation. Halcinonide cream is formulated in a biphasic base that allows for immediate-release of halcinonide upon application to the skin, followed by a delayed and sustained release of halcinonide over time. This “dual formulation” strategy allows for prolonged halcinonide activity. The formulation of halcinonide cream contains microcrystals of halcinonide. An equilibrium is established between dissolved halcinonide in the cream and non-dissolved halcinonide in the microcrystals. As soluble hal¬cinonide enters the skin, additional quantities of halcinonide from the microcrystals become available as a new equilibrium is established. This dynamic equilibrium serves to maintain a sustained level of halcinonide well beyond the time of application.

The mitomycins are a family of aziridine-containing natural products isolated from Streptomyces caespitosus or Streptomyces lavendulae. One of these compounds, mitomycin C, finds use as a chemotherapeutic agent by virtue of its antitumour activity. Mitomycin C has also been used topically rather than intravenously in several areas. The first is cancers, particularly bladder cancers and intraperitoneal tumours. It is now well known that a single instillation of this agent within 6 hours of bladder tumor resection can prevent recurrence. The second is in eye surgery where mitomycin C 0.02% is applied topically to prevent scarring during glaucoma filtering surgery and to prevent haze after PRK or LASIK; mitomycin C has also been shown to reduce fibrosis in strabismus surgery. The third is in esophageal and tracheal stenosis where application of mitomycin C onto the mucosa immediately following dilatation will decrease re-stenosis by decreasing the production of fibroblasts and scar tissue. Mitomycin C is a potent DNA crosslinker. A single crosslink per genome has shown to be effective in killing bacteria. This is accomplished by reductive activation of mitomycin to form a mitosene, which reacts successively via N-alkylation of two DNA bases. Both alkylations are sequence specific for a guanine nucleoside in the sequence 5'-CpG-3'. Potential bis-alkylating heterocylic quinones were synthetised in order to explore their antitumoral activities by bioreductive alkylation. Mitomycin is also used as a chemotherapeutic agent in glaucoma surgery.

Pancuronium (trademarked as Pavulon) is an aminosteroid muscle relaxant with various medical uses. Pancuronium is a typical non-depolarizing curare-mimetic muscle relaxant. It competitively inhibits the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction by blocking the binding of acetylcholine. It has slight vagolytic activity, causing an increase in heart rate, but no ganglioplegic (i.e., blocking ganglions) activity. It is a very potent muscle relaxant drug, with an ED95 of only 60 µg/kg body weight. The onset of action is relatively slow compared to other similar drugs, in part due to its low dose - an intubating dose takes 3–6 minutes for full effect. Clinical effects (muscle activity lower than 25% of physiological) last for about 100 minutes. The time needed for full (over 90% muscle activity) recovery after single administration is about 120–180 minutes in healthy adults. Pancuronium is used with general anesthesia in surgery for muscle relaxation and as an aid to intubation or ventilation. It does not have sedative or analgesic effects. Side-effects include moderately raised heart rate and thereby arterial pressure and cardiac output, excessive salivation, apnea and respiratory depression, rashes, flushing, and sweating. The muscular relaxation can be dangerous for the seriously ill and it can accumulate leading to extended weakness. Pancuronium is not preferable to long-term use in ICU-ventilated patients. Pancuronium is also used as one component of a lethal injection in the administration of the death penalty in some parts of the United States.

Desonide is a topical glucocorticoid which was approved by FDA for the treatment of such conditions as eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, etc. The exact mechanism of drug action is unknown.

Cephalexin is a semisynthetic cephalosporin antibiotic intended for oral administration. In vitro tests demonstrate that the cephalosporins are bactericidal because of their inhibition of cell-wall synthesis. Cephalexin has been shown to be active against most strains of the following microorganisms both in vitro: Staphylococcus aureus (including penicillinase-producing strains), Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-susceptible strains), Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis, Proteus mirabilis. Cephalexin is indicated for the treatment of the respiratory tract, skin and skin structure, bone and genitourinary tract infections when caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms.

Fluocinonide is a potent glucocorticoid steroid used topically as anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of skin disorders such as eczema. It relieves itching, redness, dryness, crusting, scaling, inflammation, and discomfort. Fluocinonide binds to the cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor. After binding the receptor the newly formed receptor-ligand complex translocates itself into the cell nucleus, where it binds to many glucocorticoid response elements (GRE) in the promoter region of the target genes. The DNA bound receptor then interacts with basic transcription factors, causing the increase in expression of specific target genes. The anti-inflammatory actions of corticosteroids are thought to involve lipocortins, phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins which, through inhibition arachidonic acid, control the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Specifically glucocorticoids induce lipocortin-1 (annexin-1) synthesis, which then binds to cell membranes preventing the phospholipase A2 from coming into contact with its substrate arachidonic acid. This leads to diminished eicosanoid production. Cyclooxygenase (both COX-1 and COX-2) expression is also suppressed, potentiating the effect. In another words, the two main products in inflammation Prostaglandins and Leukotrienes are inhibited by the action of Glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids also stimulate the lipocortin-1 escaping to the extracellular space, where it binds to the leukocyte membrane receptors and inhibits various inflammatory events: epithelial adhesion, emigration, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, respiratory burst and the release of various inflammatory mediators (lysosomal enzymes, cytokines, tissue plasminogen activator, chemokines etc.) from neutrophils, macrophages and mastocytes. Additionally the immune system is suppressed by corticosteroids due to a decrease in the function of the lymphatic system, a reduction in immunoglobulin and complement concentrations, the precipitation of lymphocytopenia, and interference with antigen-antibody binding. Like other glucocorticoid agents Fluocinolone acetonide acts as a physiological antagonist to insulin by decreasing glycogenesis (formation of glycogen). It also promotes the breakdown of lipids (lipolysis), and proteins, leading to the mobilization of extrahepatic amino acids and ketone bodies. This leads to increased circulating glucose concentrations (in the blood). There is also decreased glycogen formation in the liver. Fluocinonide is used for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. Fluocinonide is marketed under the names Fluonex, Lidex, Lidex-E, Lonide, Lyderm, and Vanos.

Cytarabine is a pyrimidine nucleoside analog. Cytarabine or cytosine arabinoside (Cytosar-U or Depocyt) is a chemotherapy agent used mainly in the treatment of cancers of white blood cells such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It also has antiviral and immunosuppressant properties. Cytarabine is an antimetabolite antineoplastic agent that inhibits the synthesis of DNA. It is a cell cycle phase-specific, affecting cells only during the S phase of cell division. Intracellularly, cytarabine is converted into cytarabine-5-triphosphate (ara-CTP), which is the active metabolite. The mechanism of action is not completely understood, but it appears that ara-CTP acts primarily through inhibition of DNA polymerase. Incorporation into DNA and RNA may also contribute to cytarabine cytotoxicity. Cytarabine is cytotoxic to a wide variety of proliferating mammalian cells in culture.The drug has a short plasma half-life, low stability and limited bioavailability. Overdosing of patients with continuous infusions may lead to side effects. Thus, various prodrug strategies and delivery systems have been explored extensively to enhance the half-life, stability and delivery of cytarabine. Alternative, delivery systems of cytarabine have emerged for the treatment of different cancers. The liposomal-cytarabine formulation has been approved for the treatment of lymphomatous meningitis.