Nalfurafine, an opioid κ-selective agonist, has been officially approved for resistant pruritus in HD patients on the basis of a well-evidenced clinical trial in Japan. Nalfurafine hydrochloride is a potent and selective agonist for mouse, rat, guinea pig, and human κ-opioid receptors without significant activity on µ- and δ-opioid receptors. Nalfurafine hydrochloride (2.5 and 5 ug/day) has been proven to be safe and effective for the treatment of HD patients with uremic pruritus resistant to antihistamines.

Aceclidine is a parasympathomimetic agent used in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma as topical eye drop solution. It is as a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonist with weak anticholinesterase activity. Acting directly on the motor end-plate (cholinergic nerve endings) it decreases intraocular pressure and mediates the contraction of iris muscle. Aceclidine increased outflow facility in human eyes in vitro by a direct stimulation of the outflow tissues in the absence of an intact ciliary muscle. This effect was biphasic, occurring at concentrations of 10 uM and lower with no effect at higher concentrations. Passed numerous clinical trials in Russia, France, Italy and other countries and was widely used in Europe but never been in clinical use in USA.

QUININE PHOSPHATE, a salt of quinine, was formerly used for the treatment of malaria.

Sitafloxacin hydrate (DU-6859a, Gracevit), a new-generation, broad-spectrum oral fluoroquinolone that is very active against many Gram-positive, Gram-negative and anaerobic clinical isolates, including strains resistant to other fluoroquinolones, was recently approved in Japan for the treatment of respiratory and urinary tract infections. This is a new quinolone oral antibacterial to inhibit DNA replication of bacteria at the time of infection, and shows antibacterial action. Sitafloxacin is active against methicillin-resistant staphylococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae and other streptococci with reduced susceptibility to levofloxacin and other quinolones and enterococci. Sitafloxacin has also demonstrated activity against clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae (including about 67% of strains producing extended-spectrum, beta-lactamases and resistant to ciprofloxacin), Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa with some activity against quinolone-resistant strains and Acinetobacter baumannii. The in vitro activity against anaerobes is comparable to imipenem or metronidazole. Sitafloxacin showed dual inhibitory activity against both enzymes: Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.

Pirmenol is an antiarrhythmic agent, which exhibits effects on the fast action potential similar to other class 1 membrane active antiarrhythmic agents. Pirmenol depresses not only the fast Na+ channel, but also others, such as the slow Ca2+ and K+ channels. Pirmenol had sevenfold lower affinity for glandular-type muscarinic receptors (M3) than for cardiac-type muscarinic receptors (M2). This medicine regulates disturbed pulse by acting on the cardiac muscle. Usually, used for treatment of tachyarrhythmia (ventricular). The most commonly reported adverse reactions include constipation, discomfort in stomach, difficulty in urination (urinary retention), headache, insomnia, bitterness in the mouth, nausea, dry mouth and palpitation. Lidocaine, procainamide and quinidine a greater degree of arrhythmia conversion occurred when dosed 15 min after pirmenol than when these agents were dosed alone.

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.

Proxazole Citrate is a spasmolytic papaverine-like agent used for functional gastrointestinal disorders in veterinary and acute renal insufficiency. In animal models, Proxazole has antitussive, antispasmodic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities. Proxazole has veterinary uses against gastritis, infective and non-infective gastro-enteritis, urethritis, cystitis and spastic states with an inflammatory component of the smooth muscles of the digestive and genito-urinary systems. Proxazole is excreted both in feces and urine mainly as inactive metabolites.

Hydroquinine (Inhibin®) has been approved for marketing in the Netherlands for the treatment of nocturnal cramps when treatment with drugs is considered necessary. It is available in the Netherlands since March 1990 as an over-the-counter drug with a dose of 200 mg with the evening meal and a further 100 mg at bedtime for 14 days. Hydroquinine also has antimalarial and demelanizing activity. It might be used to lightens light brown color patches on skin, age spots, skin discolorations associated with pregnancy, skin trauma or taking birth control pills. Hydroquinine is used in skin lightening creams and lotions because it is an effective bleaching agent, slowing the production of the tyrosinase enzyme and reducing the amount of melanin formed.

Hydroquinine (Inhibin®) has been approved for marketing in the Netherlands for the treatment of nocturnal cramps when treatment with drugs is considered necessary. It is available in the Netherlands since March 1990 as an over-the-counter drug with a dose of 200 mg with the evening meal and a further 100 mg at bedtime for 14 days. Hydroquinine also has antimalarial and demelanizing activity. It might be used to lightens light brown color patches on skin, age spots, skin discolorations associated with pregnancy, skin trauma or taking birth control pills. Hydroquinine is used in skin lightening creams and lotions because it is an effective bleaching agent, slowing the production of the tyrosinase enzyme and reducing the amount of melanin formed.

Zofenopril is an inhibitor of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), which is approved in Europe for the treatment of hypertension and acute myocardial infarction.