Icatibant (trade name Firazyr) is a synthetic peptidomimetic drug consisting of ten amino acids, and acts as an effective and specific antagonist of bradykinin B2 receptors. It has been approved in the EU for use in hereditary angioedema, and is under investigation for a number of other conditions in which bradykinin is thought to play a significant role. Icatibant currently has orphan drug status in the United States and FDA approved on August 25, 2011. Icatibant inhibits bradykinin from binding the B2 receptor and thereby treats the clinical symptoms of an acute, episodic attack of HAE.

Cabazitaxel (JEVTANA®) is an antineoplastic agent belonging to the taxane class and is used to treat people with prostate cancer that has progressed despite treatment with docetaxel. It is prepared by semi-synthesis with a precursor extracted from yew needles (10-deacetylbaccatin III). Cabazitaxel (JEVTANA®) is a microtubule inhibitor. It binds to tubulin and promotes its assembly into microtubules while simultaneously inhibiting disassembly. This leads to the stabilization of microtubules, which results in the inhibition of mitotic and interphase cellular functions. The cell is then unable to progress further into the cell cycle, being stalled at metaphase, thus triggering apoptosis of the cancer cell.

Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation broad-spectrum cephalosporin with potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Ceftaroline is the bioactive metabolite of ceftaroline fosamil, an N-phosphonoamino water-soluble cephalosporin prodrug, which is rapidly converted in vivo upon the hydrolysis of the phosphonate group by plasma phosphatises. Ceftaroline fosamil is being developed by Forest Laboratories, under a license from Takeda. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ceftaroline fosamil for use in the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections as well as community-acquired pneumonia. Ceftaroline has bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, therefore serving as an attractive alternative agent for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia when approved agents are contraindicated or treatment failures have occurred. Like other β-lactams, ceftaroline’s mechanism of action is mediated by binding to the penicillin-binding protein (PBP), the enzyme mediating the cross-linking transpeptidation of the peptidoglycan which are the terminal steps in completing formation of the bacterial cell wall. MRSA strains have a mutated PBP2a which prohibits β-lactam antibiotics from accessing its active site that mediates the transpeptidation reaction. Ceftaroline possesses an ethoxyimino side-chain mimicking a portion of a cell wall structure, which acts as a “Trojan horse”, allosterically opening and facilitating access to the active site of the PBP2a. Based on clinical trial data to date, ceftaroline appears to be safe and well-tolerated. Since ceftaroline is a cephalosporin, it has caused serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients who are allergic to cephalosporins and among some patients with penicillin allergies.

Ceftaroline is a fifth-generation broad-spectrum cephalosporin with potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Ceftaroline is the bioactive metabolite of ceftaroline fosamil, an N-phosphonoamino water-soluble cephalosporin prodrug, which is rapidly converted in vivo upon the hydrolysis of the phosphonate group by plasma phosphatises. Ceftaroline fosamil is being developed by Forest Laboratories, under a license from Takeda. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ceftaroline fosamil for use in the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections as well as community-acquired pneumonia. Ceftaroline has bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, therefore serving as an attractive alternative agent for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia when approved agents are contraindicated or treatment failures have occurred. Like other β-lactams, ceftaroline’s mechanism of action is mediated by binding to the penicillin-binding protein (PBP), the enzyme mediating the cross-linking transpeptidation of the peptidoglycan which are the terminal steps in completing formation of the bacterial cell wall. MRSA strains have a mutated PBP2a which prohibits β-lactam antibiotics from accessing its active site that mediates the transpeptidation reaction. Ceftaroline possesses an ethoxyimino side-chain mimicking a portion of a cell wall structure, which acts as a “Trojan horse”, allosterically opening and facilitating access to the active site of the PBP2a. Based on clinical trial data to date, ceftaroline appears to be safe and well-tolerated. Since ceftaroline is a cephalosporin, it has caused serious hypersensitivity reactions in patients who are allergic to cephalosporins and among some patients with penicillin allergies.

Ulipristal acetate (also known as CDB-2914 and PGL4001 and trade name Ella in the U.S) is a novel oral emergency contraceptive designed and developed by HRA Pharma. It is a selective progesterone receptor modulator, which reversibly blocks the progesterone receptors in target tissues it was approved in May 2009 by the European Commission and in August 2010 by the FDA as safe and effective in preventing unintended pregnancy for up to 120 hours – or five days – post- unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure. Ella is not intended for routine use as a contraceptive. When taken immediately before ovulation is to occur, ella postpones follicular rupture. The likely primary mechanism of action of ulipristal acetate for emergency contraception is therefore inhibition or delay of ovulation; however, alterations to the endometrium that may affect implantation may also contribute to efficacy. The most common side effects are: headache, nausea, stomach (abdominal) pain, menstrual pain. Some women taking ella may have their next period earlier or later than expected. If your period is more than a week late, you should get a pregnancy test.

Prasugrel, a thienopyridine derivative, is a platelet activation and aggregation inhibitor structurally and pharmacologically related to clopidogrel and ticlopidine. Similar to clopidogrel, prasugrel is a prodrug that requires enzymatic transformation in the liver to its active metabolite, R-138727. R-138727 irreversibly binds to P2Y12 type ADP receptors on platelets thus preventing activation of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor complex. As a result, inhibition of ADP-mediated platelet activation and aggregation occurs. Prasugrel was developed by Daiichi Sankyo Co. and is currently marketed under the brand name EFFIENT in the United States and Canada in cooperation with Eli Lilly and Company for acute coronary syndromes planned for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). FDA approved in 2009.

DEGARELIX (FIRMAGON®) is a synthetic linear decapeptide amide containing seven unnatural amino acids, five of which are D-amino acids. It is a GnRH receptor antagonist. It binds reversibly to the pituitary GnRH receptors, thereby reducing the release of gonadotropins and consequently testosterone. DEGARELIX (FIRMAGON®) is effective in achieving and maintaining testosterone suppression below the castration level of 50 ng/dL and is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer.

DEGARELIX (FIRMAGON®) is a synthetic linear decapeptide amide containing seven unnatural amino acids, five of which are D-amino acids. It is a GnRH receptor antagonist. It binds reversibly to the pituitary GnRH receptors, thereby reducing the release of gonadotropins and consequently testosterone. DEGARELIX (FIRMAGON®) is effective in achieving and maintaining testosterone suppression below the castration level of 50 ng/dL and is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Amfenac (AHR 5850) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound possessing antipyretic and analgesic properties. It is an inhibitor of cyclooxygenases. Amfenac sodium has been on the Japanese market since 1986 (as FENAZOX®, Meiji) in an oral dosage form (50 mg, four-times-daily) indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid and osteoarthritis and low back pain, as well as the treatment of pain and inflammation following surgery, injury or tooth extraction. Amfenac is an active moiety of nepafenac (amfenac amide), the prodrug has very weak cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity whereas amfenac exhibits more potent cyclooxygenase activity. Nepafenac at a concentration of 0.1% (NEVANAC) was approved for marketing in the US in 2005. Nepafenac is also approved for marketing in the European Union(EU) and Japan as well as over 60 other countries for the treatment of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery.

Treprostinil (marketed under the trade names Remodulin for infusion) is a vasodilator that is used for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease in which blood pressure is abnormally high in the arteries between the heart and lungs. PAH is characterized by symptoms of shortness of breath during physical exertion. The condition can ultimately lead to heart failure. Treprostinil is a potent oral antiplatelet agent. The major pharmacologic actions of treprostinil are direct vasodilation of pulmonary and systemic arterial vascular beds and inhibition of platelet aggregation. In animals, the vasodilatory effects reduce right and left ventricular afterload and increase cardiac output and stroke volume. Other studies have shown that treprostinil causes a dose-related negative inotropic and lusitropic effect. No major effects on cardiac conduction have been observed. Treprostinil had high affinity for the Prostaglandin D2 receptor (DP1), Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP2 subtype (EP2) and Prostaglandin D2 receptor (IP) receptors (Ki 4.4, 3.6 and 32 nM, respectively), low affinity for EP1 and EP4 receptors and even lower affinity for EP3, Prostaglandin F (FP) and thromboxane (TP) receptors. Treprostinil has demonstrated a unique effect on PPAR gamma, a transcription factor important in vascular pathogenesis as a mediator of proliferation, inflammation and apoptosis. Through a complementary, yet cyclic AMP-independent pathway, treprostinil activates PPARs, another mechanism that contributes to the anti-growth benefits of the prostacyclin class.