Tiapride is a drug that selectively blocks D2 and D3 dopamine receptors in the brain. It is used to treat a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders including dyskinesia, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, negative symptoms of psychosis, and agitation and aggression in the elderly. A derivative of benzamide, tiapride is chemically and functionally similar to other benzamide antipsychotics such as sulpiride and amisulpride known for their dopamine antagonist effects. Tiapride is marketed under various trade names and is widely available outside of the United States. The most common trade name for tiapride is Tiapridal, which is used throughout Europe, Russia, as well as parts of South America, the Middle East, and North Africa. It is also sold under different names in Italy (Italprid, Sereprile), Japan (Tialaread, Tiaryl, Tiaprim, Tiaprizal), Chile (Sereprid), Germany (Tiaprid, Tiapridex), and China (Tiapride).

Brivudine (trade names Zostex, Mevir, Brivir, among others) is an antiviral drug used in the treatment of herpes zoster ("shingles"). Brivudine is an analog of the nucleoside thymidine. The active compound is brivudine 5'-triphosphate, which is formed in subsequent phosphorylations by viral (but not human) thymidine kinase and presumably by the nucleoside-diphosphate kinase. Brivudine 5'-triphosphate works because it is incorporated into the viral DNA, but then blocks the action of DNA polymerases, thus inhibiting viral replication. Brivudine is used for the treatment of herpes zoster in adult patients. It is taken orally once daily, in contrast to aciclovir, valaciclovir, and other antivirals. A study has found that it is more effective than aciclovir, but this has been disputed because of a possible conflict of interest on part of the study authors. The drug is contraindicated in patients undergoing immunosuppression (for example because of an organ transplant) or cancer therapy, especially with fluorouracil (5-FU) and chemically related (pro)drugs such as capecitabine and tegafur, as well as the antimycotic drug flucytosine, which is also related to 5-FU. It has not been proven to be safe for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. The drug is generally well tolerated. The only common side effect is nausea (in 2% of patients). Less common side effects (<1%) include a headache, increased or lowered blood cell counts (granulocytopenia, anemia, lymphocytosis, monocytosis), increased liver enzymes, and allergic reactions. Brivudine is approved for use in a number of European countries including Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.

SORIVUDINE (BV-araU) is an Anti-Herpes Virus Drugs, which was Withdrawn in 1995. Aantiviral action of BV-araU against VZV (varicella-zoster virus) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is based on the inhibition of DNA synthesis in herpesvirus-infected cells.

Aplidin (plitidepsin) is an investigative anticancer agent under development by PharmaMar, a pharmaceutical company that commercializes anticancer drugs of marine origin. Aplidin is isolated from the sea squirt (Aplidium albicans) and has shown anti-myeloma activity even in myelomas resistant to other agents. The drug has received orphan drug designation in the U.S., the European Union, and Switzerland. The target of plitidepsin is the eEF1A2 protein. The bonding of plitidepsin to this protein blocks its pro-oncogenic property and impedes the transportation of the misfolded proteins, which are toxic to the tumor, to the proteasome for their destruction. It also inhibits the activation of the aggresome by eEF1A2 and the destruction of the aggresome in the lysosome. This provokes anexcess of misfolded proteins, this causing cell death through apoptosis. Recently, a Phase III randomized trial in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma reported outcomes for plitidepsin plus dexamethasone compared with dexamethasone. Median progression-free survival was 3.8 months in the plitidepsin arm and 1.9 months in the dexamethasone arm. However, on 14 December 2017, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a negative opinion, recommending the refusal of the marketing authorisation for the medicinal product Aplidin, intended for the treatment of multiple myeloma. At the time of the initial review, the CHMP was concerned that the data from the main study showed only a modest increase of around one month in the time patients given Aplidin lived without their disease getting worse, compared with those treated with dexamethasone alone. In addition, improvement in overall survival (how long patients lived overall) was not sufficiently demonstrated. Regarding safety, severe side effects were reported more frequently with the combination of Aplidin and dexamethasone than with dexamethasone alone. Based on the above, the CHMP was of the opinion that the benefits of Aplidin did not outweigh its risks and recommended that it be refused marketing authorisation.After re-examination, the Committee remained of the same opinion. The CHMP therefore confirmed its recommendation that the marketing authorisation be refused.

Acecainide (N-acetylprocainamide), the N-acetylated metabolite of procainamide, is a Class III antiarrhythmic agent. Acecainide exerts cardiac anticholinergic effect. It elicits smooth muscle relaxation mainly through the activation of plasma membrane K+ channels. Acecainide markedly reduced premature ventricular beats and prevented induction of ventricular tachycardia. Acecainide appears to offer advantages over procainamide, particularly with respect to the reduced formation of antinuclear antibodies. Acecainide development has been discontinued.

Gusperimus is an antibiotic, isolated from cultures of the soil commensal Bacillus laterosporus. It possess immunosuppressive properties and exerts its effect through binding to heat shock proteins Hsp90 and Hsc70. Although initially, the drug was being investigated for the treatment of cancer, it recieved orphan designation for the treatment of refractory Wegener’s granulomatosis.

Roquinimex (Linomide, LS 2616) is a quinoline-3-carboxamide with pleiotropic immune modulating capacity and it has therapeutic effects in several experimental animal models of autoimmune diseases. Linomide has been evaluated in clinical trials for multiple sclerosis, and was indeed shown to have disease inhibitory effects. However, due to unexpected side effects recorded in patients treated with Linomide, premature termination of clinical trials was required. The basic mechanism(s) of action of Linomide in inducing beneficial effects in autoimmune diseases is still elusive. Some experimental evidence indicates that Linomide influences the regulation of the cytokine profile, resulting in the inhibition of autoimmune and inflammation pathologies. Roquinimex possesses potential antineoplastic activity. Roquinimex inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and basement membrane invasion; reduces the secretion of the angiogenic factor tumor necrosis factor alpha by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs); and inhibits angiogenesis. Roquinimex was in phase III clinical trials with Pharmacia Corporation in Europe and the US for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Piracetam (sold under many brand names) is a nootropic drug in the racetams group, with chemical name 2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide. It shares the same 2-oxo-pyrrolidone base structure with pyroglutamic acid. Piracetam is a cyclic derivative of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), originally marketed in 1971 by UCB Pharma. Presently piracetam is used in many European countries, Asia and South America. In the United States, it is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for any medical use and it is not permitted to be sold as a dietary supplement. In the UK, piracetam is prescribed mainly for myoclonus but is used off-label for other conditions. Evidence to support its use for many conditions is unclear. Piracetam's mechanism of action, as with racetams in general, is not fully understood. The drug influences neuronal and vascular functions and influences cognitive function without acting as a sedative or stimulant. It is hypothesized to act on ion channels or ion carriers, thus leading to increased neuron excitability. GABA brain metabolism and GABA receptors are not affected by piracetam. It has been found to increase blood flow and oxygen consumption in parts of the brain, but this may be a side effect of increased brain activity rather than a primary effector mechanism of action for the drug.

Flunarizine is a selective calcium entry blocker with calmodulin binding properties and histamine H1 / dopamine D2 blocking activity. It is not available in the US but marketed in other countries for prophylaxis of a migraine, occlusive peripheral vascular disease, the vertigo of central and peripheral origin, motion sickness and as an adjuvant in the therapy of epilepsy. The drug is also investigated for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Ataluren (Translarna) is a small-molecule drug approved in Europe for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy caused by a nonsense mutation. Ataluren interacts with the ribosome enabling it to read through premature nonsense stop signals on mRNA and allowing the cell to produce a full-length, functional protein. Ataluren is also being tested in phase III for cystic fibrosis caused by a nonsense mutation.