Praziquantel, marketed as Biltricide, is an anthelmintic used in humans and animals for the treatment of tapeworms and flukes. Specifically, it is effective against schistosoma, Clonorchis sinensis the fish tape worm Diphyllobothrium latum. Praziquantel works by causing severe spasms and paralysis of the worms' muscles. This paralysis is accompanied - and probably caused - by a rapid Ca 2+ influx inside the schistosome. Morphological alterations are another early effect of praziquantel. These morphological alterations are accompanied by an increased exposure of schistosome antigens at the parasite surface. The worms are then either completely destroyed in the intestine or passed in the stool. An interesting quirk of praziquantel is that it is relatively ineffective against juvenile schistosomes. While initially effective, effectiveness against schistosomes decreases until it reaches a minimum at 3-4 weeks. Effectiveness then increases again until it is once again fully effective at 6-7 weeks. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), an essential detoxification enzyme in parasitic helminths, is a major vaccine target and a drug target against schistosomiasis. Schistosome calcium ion channels are currently the only known target of praziquantel. The antibiotic rifampicin decreases plasma concentrations of praziquantel. Carbamazepine and phenytoin are reported to reduce the bioavailability of praziquantel. Chloroquine reduces the bioavailability of praziquantel. The drug cimetidine heightens praziquantel bioavailability.

Spironolactone is a synthetic 17-lactone steroid which is a renal competitive aldosterone antagonist in a class of pharmaceuticals called potassium-sparing diuretics. On its own, spironolactone is only a weak diuretic, but it can be combined with other diuretics. Due to its anti-androgen effect, it can also be used to treat hirsutism, and is a common component in hormone therapy for male-to-female transgendered people. Spironolactone inhibits the effect of aldosterone by competing for intracellular aldosterone receptor in the distal tubule cells. This increases the secretion of water and sodium, while decreasing the excretion of potassium. Spironolactone has a fairly slow onset of action, taking several days to develop and similarly the effect diminishes slowly. Spironolactone is a specific pharmacologic antagonist of aldosterone, acting primarily through competitive binding of receptors at the aldosterone-dependent sodium-potassium exchange site in the distal convoluted renal tubule. Spironolactone causes increased amounts of sodium and water to be excreted, while potassium is retained. Spironolactone acts both as a diuretic and as an antihypertensive drug by this mechanism. It may be given alone or with other diuretic agents which act more proximally in the renal tubule. Aldosterone interacts with a cytoplasmic mineralocorticoid receptor to enhance the expression of the Na+, K+-ATPase and the Na+ channel involved in a Na+ K+ transport in the distal tubule . Spironolactone bind to this mineralcorticoid receptor, blocking the actions of aldosterone on gene expression. Aldosterone is a hormone; its primary function is to retain sodium and excrete potassium in the kidneys. Spironolactone is used primarily to treat low-renin hypertension, hypokalemia, and Conn's syndrome.

Prednisolone hemisuccinate is a prodrug of a glucocorticoid agonist prednisolone, which is marketed under trade name Prednisolut in Germany and Austria. Prednisolone hemisuccinate is used in emergency medicine to treate shock due to allergic reaction, insect and snake bites, in neurology to treat brain edema and meningitis, in transplantation medicine to reduce risk of organ refection after kidney transplane, in pneumology to treat acute asthma attack, pulmonary edema, in severe or life-threatening situation in rheumatic diseases.

Osaterone acetate (previously known as TZP-4238), a synthetic steroidal anti-androgen agent. Osaterone acetate is used in veterinary in Europe in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in male dogs. Osaterone acetate inhibits the effects of an excess of male hormone (testosterone) through various mechanisms. It competitively prevents the binding of androgens to their prostatic receptors and blocks the transport of testosterone into the prostate. Osaterone acetate was also investigated in Japan in the treatment of prostate cancer and BPH and, in addition, was studied in postmenopausal osteoporosis in humans. However, these studies were discontinued.

Cimicoxib is a selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor used in veterinary medicine to treat dogs for pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and for the management of pain and inflammation associated with surgery. Limited data are available on cimicoxib, with one study documenting non-inferiority compared to carprofen in managing postoperative pain for dogs undergoing either orthopedic or soft tissue surgery. There are some data available as part of cimicoxib’s approval process in Europe to support its use for chronic pain.

Mitratapide is a potent inhibitor of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein used for the treatment of obesity in dogs. The drug was developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica and is chemically related to the antifungal drugs such as itraconazole which were also developed by Janssen. Administration of mitratapide to dogs results in reduced uptake of dietary lipids, dose dependent decreases in serum cholesterol and triglyceride and an increased presence of triglyceride containing droplets in enterocytes. Mitratapide also has a slight appetite decreasing effect that is claimed to be associated with its mode of action. Vomiting, diarrhoea or softened stools may occur during treatment. In most cases, these effects are mild and transient.

Halofuginone is a low molecular weight quinazolinone alkaloid, and a potent inhibitor of collagen alpha1(I) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) gene expression. Halofuginone also effectively suppresses tumor progression and metastasis in mice. Halofuginone is a potent inhibitor of collagen a1(I) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) gene expression. Halofuginone also suppresses extracellular matrix deposition and cell proliferation. Also was shown that halofuginone increased apoptosis in α smooth muscle actin- and prolyl 4-hydroxylase β-expressing cells in mdx diaphragm and in myofibroblasts, the major source of extracellular matrix. The profound antitumoral effect of halofuginone is attributed to its combined inhibition of tumour-stromal support, vascularization, invasiveness, and cell proliferation. HT-100 (delayed-release halofuginone), currently in clinical phase 1b/2a in five U.S. hospitals, is a small molecule drug candidate taken orally for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients primarily through its ability to reduce fibrosis and inflammation and promote muscle fiber regeneration. The medicine candidate has been granted orphan drug designation in the U.S. and the EU — meaning it has been commercially undeveloped due to its limited profitability — and fast-track designation in the U.S. — an FDA process that aims to facilitate the development and patients’ reach to novel therapies for unmet medical needs.

Difloxacin is an aryl fluoroquinolone derivative. The primary bacterial target of fluoroquinolones is the enzyme deoxyribonucleic acid gyrase. Difloxacin is very potent against a broad spectrum of bacteria including aerobic ana anaerobic gram-positive and gram-negative oragnisms. DICURAL® (difloxacin hydrochloride) TABLETS are indicated for the management of diseases in dogs associated with bacteria susceptible to difloxacin.