Dichloroacetic acid, often abbreviated DCA (dichloroacetate), is an acid analog of acetic acid in which two of the three hydrogen atoms of the methyl group have been replaced by chlorine atoms. The salts and esters of dichloroacetic acid are called dichloroacetates. Salts of DCA are used as drugs since they inhibit the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase. Early reports of its activity against brain cancer cells led patients to treat themselves with DCA, which is commercially available in non-pharmaceutical grade. A phase 1 study in 5 patients concluded that DCA was safe, but wasn't designed to establish effectiveness. DCA was approved for use in Canada in 1989 (as a topical formulation for the treatment of warts and for cauterization and removal of a wide variety of skin and tissue lesions), but was cancelled post market. DCA is a noncompetitive inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum enzyme HMG CoA reductase, which catalyzes the rate limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. DCA has been researched in adults, children, animals, and cells as a monotherapy as well as in combination with other therapies for the treatment of severe metabolic disorders including diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, lactic acidosis, certain heart conditions, and cancer. DCA has been prescribed to reduce tumour size and tumour markers, prevent angiogenesis, reduce cancer related symptoms, manage pain, and aid in palliation.

NAG-thiazoline (NGT) and its derivatives are well-known inhibitors against most b-acetylglucosaminidases (b-GlcNAcases) except for insect and bacterial chitinolytic b-GlcNAcase. Among them, NGT was the only one specifically designed to be an analog of the oxazolinium reaction intermediate based on the substrate-assisted mechanism, an attractive starting point to develop potent inhibitors. It is a major building block for the synthesis of potential inhibitors of transglycosylases involved in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis.

Betiatide (CAS 103725-47-9; aka S-benzoylmercapto¬acetyltriglycine or 2-[[2-[[2-[(2-benzoylsulfanylacetyl)¬amino]¬acetyl]¬amino]¬acetyl]¬amino] acetic acid) is the API in TechneScan MAG3™; a kit for the preparation of technetium Tc 99m mertiatide. It is used in the diagnosis of congenital and acquired abnormalities, renal failure, urinary tract obstruction and calculi. Furthermore it is used in providing renal function, split function, renal angiograms and renogram curves for whole kidney and renal cortex. Betiatide is light sensitive and must be protected as such.

N-Acetyltyrosine is an acetylated derivative of the amino acid L-tyrosine. Ordinary L-tyrosine is less stable and also less soluble in water, which may result in reduced bioavailability. Acetylation enhances the solubility and stability of certain amino acids. N-Acetyltyrosine is commonly used in place of tyrosine in parenteral nutrition. It converts to tyrosine and then can be used in neurotransmitter treatment as a precursor of cathecholamine. N-Acetyltyrosine supports brain function by supporting the synthesis of the catecholamines norepinephrine and dopamine (neurotransmitters). N-Acetyltyrosine supplements are used to improve memory and cognitive performance in humans while they are experiencing psychological stress.

Taurine is a semi-essential amino acid and is not incorporated into proteins. Taurine is considered conditionally essential because it cannot be synthesized by infants younger than 4-6 weeks, and it may not be adequately synthesized in patients receiving long-term parenteral nutrition and patients with short-term hypermetabolic conditions. In mammalian tissues, taurine is ubiquitous and is the most abundant free amino acid in the heart, retina, skeletal muscle, brain, and leukocytes. Taurin occurs naturally in fish and meat. The mean daily intake from omnivore diets was determined to be around 58 mg. Taurine is a component of energy drinks, with many contain 1000 mg per serving. In medicine, taurine supplementation demonstrated efficacy in relieving symptoms of heart failure, hepatitis, hypertension and psychotic disorder. Taurine exerts many physiological functions, including membrane stabilization, osmoregulation and cytoprotective effects, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions as well as modulation of intracellular calcium concentration and ion channel function. In addition taurine may control muscle metabolism and gene expression, through yet unclear mechanisms. The cellular and biochemical mechanisms mediating the actions of taurine are not fully known.