Letermovir (AIC246 or MK-8228), a 3,4-dihydro-quinazoline- 4-yl-acetic acid derivative, is the prototype viral terminase complex inhibitor that is most advanced in its clinical development. The novel compound was initially developed by AiCuris. In April 2011, the drug was granted orphan drug designation for prevention of CMV disease by the European Commission. In August 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration granted it a fast track designation. In 2012, the results of Phase IIb clinical trials using letermovir in bone marrow transplant patients were presented at various international meetings, and the data were subsequently published in 2014.42 It`s continued clinical development is currently undertaken in agreement with Merck. Letermovir is highly potent in vitro and in vivo against cytomegalovirus. Because of a distinct mechanism of action, it does not exhibit cross-resistance with other antiviral drugs. It is predicted to be active against strains that are resistant to ganciclovir, foscarnet, and cidofovir. To date, early-phase clinical trials suggest a very low incidence of adverse effects. It targets the UL56 subunit of the viral terminase complex. Letermovir is currently in Phase III development.

Telotristat (telotristat etiprate) is an ethyl ester prodrug which is hydrolyzed to its active moiety LP-778902 both in vivo and in vitro. Telotristat etiprate is an orally bioavailable, small-molecule, tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) inhibitor. It is the first investigational drug in clinical studies to target TPH, an enzyme that triggers the excess serotonin production within metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (mNET) cells leading to carcinoid syndrome. Unlike existing treatments of carcinoid syndrome which reduce the release of serotonin outside tumor cells, telotristat etiprate reduces serotonin production within the tumor cells. By specifically inhibiting serotonin production telotristat may provide patients with more control over their disease. Telotristat etiprate has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and has been granted priority review by the FDA with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of February 28, 2017.

Secnidazole (trade names Flagentyl, Sindose, Solosec) is a nitroimidazole derivative used to in the treatment of amoebiasis and bacterial vaginosis. Secnidazole and other 5-nitroimidazole drugs enter micro-organisms by passive diffusion and undergo activation by reduction of the 5-nitro group. In anaerobic micro-organisms, such as Trichomonas, Giardia and Entamoeba spp., this intracellular reduction occurs via the pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase complex and results in a concentration gradient across the cell membrane which, in tum, enhances transport of the parent drug into the cell. Because the electron affinity of the 5-nitroimidazoles is greater than that of reduced ferredoxin, the drug interrupts the normal electron flow. Aerobic micro-organisms have a more positive redox potential (i.e. are more efficient electron acceptors) than secnidazole and other 5-nitroimidazoles, which explains the selective toxicity of these drugs against anaerobic microorganisms. DNA is the intracellular target of the Secnidazole and other 5-nitroimidazoles. Secnidazole and other 5-nitroimidazoles possess selective activity against many anaerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and protozoa. In general, secnidazole and metronidazole were approximately equipotent in activity against Bacteroides fragilis, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Entamoeba histolytica, in in vitro studies. Secnidazole is rapidly and completely absorbed after oral administration. Plasma drug concentrations are linear over the therapeutic dose range of 0.5 to 2g. The tolerability profile of secnidazole does not differ markedly from other 5-nitroimidazoles. The most commonly reported adverse events in clinical trials involved the gastrointestinal tract (nausea, vomiting, glossitis, anorexia, epigastric pain and a metallic taste) and occurred in 2 to 10% of patients. A headache and dizziness were experienced by about 2% of patients. The drug was equally well tolerated in adults and children, and no adverse event required therapeutic intervention or treatment withdrawal.

Lifitegrast (under brand name Xiidra) was approved as an ophthalmic solution for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Lifitegrast binds to the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1); a cell surface protein found on leukocytes and blocks the interaction of LFA-1 with its cognate ligand intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). This LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction is a key step in the inflammatory cascade that contributes to dry eye disease. Besides lifitegrast participates in phase II clinical trials for prevention of the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.

Dotatate gallium (Ga-68) (Ga-DOTATATE ) under the brand name NETSPOT is indicated for use with positron emission tomography (PET) for localization of somatostatin receptor positive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in adult and pediatric patients. In addition, was shown, that Ga-DOTATATE can be used for detection the incidental medullary thyroid carcinoma. It binds to cells that express somatostatin receptors including malignant cells, which overexpress somatostatin subtype 2 receptors.

Velpatasvir (VEL; GS-5816) is an inhibitor of HCV NS5A protein, it demonstrated favourable in vitro and in vivo properties, including potent antiviral activity against hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 to 6 replicon, good metabolic stability, low systemic clearance, and adequate bioavailability and physicochemical properties to warrant clinical evaluation. Velpatasvir is used together with sofosbuvir in the treatment of hepatitis C infection of all six major genotypes. A once-daily, single-tablet, pangenotypic regimen comprising the HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir and the HCV NS5A inhibitor velpatasvir (sofosbuvir/ velpatasvir; Epclusa) has recently been approved for the treatment of adults with chronic HCV genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 infection in the USA, EU and Canada.

Elbasvir is an inhibitor of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Non-Structural protein 5A (NS5A). Elbasvir was approved by the FDA in January 2016 for the treatment of hepatitis C. It was developed by Merck and completed Phase III trials, used in combination with the NS3/4A protease inhibitor grazoprevir under the trade name Zepatier. Zepatier is indicated for treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1 or 4 infection in adults.

Grazoprevir is a second generation NS3/4A protease inhibitor approved in the EU and the USA for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1 and 4 infections in adult patients in combination with elbasvir (C virus (HCV) NS5A inhibitor) as the fixed-dose combination product Zepatier with or without ribavirin. In phase III trials, 12 or 16 weeks of treatment with once-daily elbasvir/grazoprevir (fixed-dose tablet or as individual agents), taken with or without ribavirin, generally provided high rates of sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12) in treatment-naive and -experienced adult patients with chronic HCV genotype 1a, 1b or 4 infection, including those with or without compensated cirrhosis, HIV co-infection, inherited blood disorders or chronic kidney disease or patients receiving opioid agonist therapy or of Japanese origin. Elbasvir/grazoprevir was generally well tolerated. Thus, elbasvir/grazoprevir, with or without ribavirin, represents an effective new option for the treatment of adults with chronic HCV genotype 1 and 4 infection, including a number of difficult-to-treat populations.

Venetoclax (trade name Venclexta, also known as ABT-199) is a selective and orally bioavailable small-molecule inhibitor of BCL-2, an antiapoptotic protein. BCL-2 and its related proteins BCL-XL and MCL-1 bind to and sequester pro-apoptotic signals in the cell, causing a down-regulation of apoptosis. As an oncogene and an important regulator of apoptosis, BCL-2 overexpression therefore results in increased tumor cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy. FDA approved Venetoclax in April 2016 for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with 17p deletion, as detected by an FDA approved test, who have received at least one prior therapy. Also this drug in phase 3 clinical trial in combination therapy for the treatment patients with refractory myeloma and Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Common side effects include neutropenia, nausea, anemia, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection. Major side effects include tumor lysis syndrome and severe neutropenia.

Rucaparib is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated for the treatment of advanced mutant BRCA ovarian cancer. Rucaparib is being investigated in clinical trials against prostate cancer, breast cancer and other neoplasms.