Manidipine is a lipophilic, third-generation dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist with a high degree of selectivity for the vasculature, thereby inducing marked peripheral vasodilation with negligible cardiodepression. In addition, manidipine does not significantly affect norepinephrine levels, suggesting a lack of sympathetic activation. It has a gradual onset of action and a long duration of action enabling once daily administration. Furthermore, manidipine dilates both the efferent and the afferent renal arterioles and appears to have beneficial renal effects unrelated to its antihypertensive effect. Once-daily oral manidipine is an effective and generally well tolerated antihypertensive agent for younger and elderly adult patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. In particular, in a large double-blind trial, the incidence of ankle oedema was significantly lower in manidipine than in amlodipine recipients. Manidipine is also effective in hypertensive patients with comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or renal impairment, and appears to improve insulin sensitivity without affecting metabolic function. Thus, manidipinerepresents a first-line treatment option for patients with essential mild-to-moderate hypertension.

Toloxatone is an antidepressant launched in 1984 in France for the treatment of depression. It is a selective reversible inhibitor of MAO-A (RIMA).

Xylamidine is a peripherally-restricted antagonist of 5HT2A and 5HT1A receptor. It is used to study the role of the serotonin receptors in the regulation of food intake, cardiovascular function, and regulation of body temperature.

Watanidipine (AE0047) had been NDA filed for the treatment of hypertension in Japan. Watanidipine (as Calbren®) was awaiting registration with Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation in Japan. However, Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation has discontinued the development of this drug. Watanidipine had also been in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of stroke and preclinical trials for atherosclerosis. However, no recent development has been reported. Watanidipine (AE0047) has being shown to be a calcium antagonist with protective effects against cerebral ischaemia and the occurrence of stroke in several animal models.

Penfluridol is a highly potent; first generation diphenylbutylpiperidine antipsychotic was developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica in 1968 and is used to treat schizophrenial and similar psychotic disorders. It is, however, like most typical antipsychotics, being increasingly replaced by the atypical antipsychotics. This drug is long-acting dopamine receptor blocker.

Toliprolol is beta-adrenergic blocker. It was developed as antianginal and antihypertensive agent. Toliprolol is moderately lipophilic. It appears to have the appropriate characteristics for cerebral beta-adrenoreceptor imaging. However, tissue uptake of toliprolol was dominated by the nonspecific binding, both in the brain and in peripheral target organs, such as heart and lung. Toliprolol seems unsuitable for visualization of cerebral beta-adrenoceptors. After application of ethanol to mice, the content of glycogen of the liver and the brain decreased. By pretreatment with the beta-sympatholytic agent toliprolol, the ethanol-induced break-down of glycogen was partially blocked in the liver and completely abolished in the brain. In contrast, mainly synergistic effects of ethanol and toliprolol on the glycolysis of the liver and the brain were found. Toliprolol reduced the greater variance during the emotionally stressful situation in doses insufficient to diminish the mean increase in forearm blood flow.

Bupranolol is a non-selective beta blocker without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA), but with strong membrane stabilizing activity. Bupranolol competes with sympathomimetic neurotransmitters such as catecholamines for binding at beta(1)-adrenergic receptors in the heart, inhibiting sympathetic stimulation. This results in a reduction in resting heart rate, cardiac output, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and reflex orthostatic hypotension. Ophthalmic Bupranolol is used for the management of glaucoma and oral Bupranolol is used for the management of cardiovascular disorders. S-Bupranolol has also being shown to have superior preclinical safety profile and great antinociceptive efficacy and should be considered as a unique b-AR compound to advance future clinical pain studies.

Mefruside is a benzene disulfonamide derivative related to the benzothiadiazine or thiazide diuretics. Mefruside is adminisered orally, it is indicated for the treatment of edema and hypertension. It was developed by Bayer A.G. and is sold under the tradename Baycaron.

Dalcotidine is a histamine H2 receptor antagonist that demonstrated potent gastric mucosal protective activity on acute gastric lesions and duodenal ulcers. Dalcotidine was discontinued in phase III of clinical trials in Japan.

Efonidipine is a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative for the treatment of hypertension and angina. Efonidipine exerts its antihypertensive and antianginal effects through blocking L- and T-type calcium channels.