Betaine is a methyl derivative of glycine first isolated from the juice of sugar beets. Betaine is found in many common foods, but concentrated significantly in beets, spinach, wheat foods, and shellfish. In addition, betaine can be synthesized within the human body. Betaine participates in the methionine cycle, which produces vital biomolecules including proteins, hormones, phospholipids, polyamines, and nutrients. Betaine is used as a dietary supplement and has a beneficial effect on the human health. In the USA, FDA approved a betaine-containing drug Cystadane for the treatment of homocystinuria. The drug acts as a methyl group donor in the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine.

Alcohols exhibit rapid broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against vegetative bacteria (including mycobacteria), viruses, and fungi but are not sporicidal. They are, however, known to inhibit sporulation and spore germination, but this effect is reversible. Because of the lack of sporicidal activity, alcohols are not recommended for sterilization but are widely used for both hard-surface disinfection and skin antisepsis. Lower concentrations may also be used as preservatives and to potentiate the activity of other biocides. Many alcohol products include low levels of other biocides (in particular chlorhexidine), which remain on the skin following evaporation of the alcohol, or excipients (including emollients), which decrease the evaporation time of the alcohol and can significantly increase product efficacy. Ethanol in combination with: chlorhexidine gluconate 1% was approved to use in surgical hand antiseptic. It significantly reduces the number of microorganisms on the hands and forearms prior to surgery or patient care. Ethanol is also used as a co-solvent to dissolve many insoluble drugs and to serve as a mild sedative in some medicinal formulations. Ethanol is metabolized by the hepatic enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. Ethanol affects the brain’s neurons in several ways. It alters their membranes as well as their ion channels, enzymes, and receptors. Alcohol also binds directly to the receptors for acetylcholine, serotonin, GABA, and the NMDA receptors for glutamate. The sedative effects of ethanol are mediated through binding to GABA receptors and glycine receptors (alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits). It also inhibits NMDA receptor functioning. In its role as an anti-infective, ethanol acts as an osmolyte or dehydrating agent that disrupts the osmotic balance across cell membranes.

The aluminum salt of Allantoin, Alcloxa combines the astringent and anti-microbial properties of aluminum with the anti-irritant, soothing and healing properties of Allantoin. Alcloxa is particularly suited for use in anti-perspirants, acne treatments and foot care products. Alcloxa is a compound that combine the properties of aluminum salts with the properties of allantion. The allantion component ehhances the action of the aluminum salts and serves to overcome irritations experienced by many individuals who may be sensitive to the use of aluminum alts. The aluminum component reduces sweat by causing the sweat gland ducts swell. Alcloxa also add to the antiperspirant properties the deodorant effect because of its bacteriostatic action. It showed bacteriostatic properties at concentrations of 0.2% particularly against Gram bectaria (B. subtilis, S. aureus, P. vulgaris, Pityrosporum ovale). This is ascribable to two different mechanisms: first bacterial growth is retarded due to a decrease in the amount of water present, second aluminum salt have itself an antimicrobial action. In baby products is indicated for its healing reparative action, in the treatment of diaper rash. Also is approved in haemorrhoidal product for its soothing and keratolytic action. In oral care products Alcloxa is useful for its astringent antibacterial properties. It is very indicated in formulations for sensitive teeth, periodontal and gum diseases (like gingivitis, irritable and bleeding gums). Use levels: 0.1-1%. − In antiacne products the slightly astringent effect promotes healing of pustules and acne lesions. It reduces the extension of infected skin eruptions, healing them and developing a soothing action. May be used alone or also in combinations with other antimicrobial agents in order to fight acne more effectively. Use levels: 0.5-2.0%.

Berefrine (also known as phenylephrine oxazolidine), a prodrug of phenylephrine, is a mydriatic agent. Berefrine was developed for improving ocular absorption and reducing systemic side effects.

Combretastatin A4 is a vascular disrupting agent (VDA) that targets tumor vasculature to inhibit angiogenesis. Combretastatin A4 is a tubulin-binding agent that binds at or near the colchicine binding site of β-tubulin and inhibits tubulin assembly. This tubulin-binding agent was originally isolated from an African shrub, Combretum caffrum. Combretastatin A4 is cytotoxic to umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and to a range of cells derived from primary tumors and these cytotoxicity profiles have been used to assess several novel analogs of the drug for future development. Combretastatin A4 has antitumor activity by inhibiting AKT function. The inhibited AKT activation causes decreased cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and reduced in vitro migration/invasiveness and in vivo metastatic ability. Several studies in mice have shown that a single administration of combretastatin A4 (100 mg/kg) does not significantly affect primary tumor growth. However, repeated administration (12.5 – 25.0mg/kg twice daily) for periods of 10 – 20 days resulted in approximately 50% retardation of growth of ectopic Lewis lung carcinoma and substantial growth delay of T138 spontaneous murine breast tumors. In clinical studies, Combretastatin A4 has been well tolerated in patients at doses up to 56 mg/m2, following a protocol of five daily 10-minute intravenous infusions every 21 days. The disodium combretastatin A4 phosphate prodrug is currently undergoing clinical trials in the UK and USA.

Exisulind (tentative trade name Aptosyn) is an antineoplastic agent, which was originally developed by Cell Pathways. This drug is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (PDE) isozymes: PDE5 and PDE4. Inhibition of PDE5 appears to be pharmacologically relevant, which leads to increase cGMP and activate protein kinase G at doses that induce apoptosis, whereas cyclic AMP levels were not changed. Exisulind has been in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and for the treatment of polyps in patients who have familial adenomatous polyposis (Colorectal Cancer and Small Intestine Cancer). In addition, this drug was in phase II/III for the treatment of Prostate Cancer, however, there studies have been discontinued.

PYM50018 (also known as Myogane or SARSAGENIN) has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in several preclinical models. It was observed that PYM50018 protects against neuronal damage, increases neurite outgrowth, reverses oxidative damage and reversed neuronal apoptosis. PYM50018 is in phase I clinical study for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

AT-406 (DEBIO-1143, SM-406), is a potent and orally bioavailable Smac mimetic and an antagonist of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). AT-406 inhibits cancer cell growth in various human cancer cell lines. It has good oral bioavailability in mice, rats, non-human primates, and dogs, is highly effective in induction of apoptosis in xenograft tumors, and is capable of complete inhibition of tumor growth. Debiopharm under a licence from Ascenta Therapeutics is developing AT-406 for the treatment of cancers.

Ezutromid (SMTC-1100) is a small molecule utrophin upregulator. Ezutromid was identified from an iterative analoging approach from initial hits identified using a human muscle-specific utrophin A promoter cell-based assay. It increases both utrophin RNA and protein resulting in a significant reduction in dystrophic symptoms and increased muscle function in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice ( a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)). Ezutromid was deemed safe and well tolerated in a Phase 1a healthy volunteer study and successfully completed a Phase 1b study in DMD boys. Summit Therapeutics is developing Ezutromid for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Inecalcitol is a calcitriol analog with potential antineoplastic activity patented by a global pharmaceutical company Laboratoire Theramex. Inecalcitol is a potent agonist of vitamin D receptor (VDR). Inecalcitol was shown to be more potent than calcitriol in decreasing tumor cell growth and inducing apoptosis in a number of different model systems including models of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and squamous cell cancer. Importantly, at the doses shown to induce tumor regression in the animal models investigated, Inecalcitol had no major effect on blood calcium levels. In this phase I study, Inecalcitol was found to be well tolerated. Currently, Inecalcitol in combination with the cytotoxic drug, decitabine is undergoing a phase II clinical trial in patients with acute myeloid leukemia who are unfit to receive standard chemotherapy.