Ertugliflozin (PF-04971729) is a potent and selective sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor incorporating a unique dioxa-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane (bridged ketal) ring system. SGLT2 has become an important therapeutic target and several SGLT2-selective inhibitors are either approved or in clinical development for the management of blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes. Ertugliflozin demonstrated robust urinary glucose excretion in rats and an excellent preclinical safety profile. It was announced that FDA and EMA filing acceptances of three marketing applications for ertugliflozin-containing medicines for adults with type 2 diabetes.

Etelcalcetide (formerly velcalcetide, trade name Parsabiv) is a calcimimetic drug for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Etelcalcetide was approved (trade name Parsabiv) for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis in February, 2017. Etelcalcetide is a synthetic peptide calcium-sensing receptor agonist. It allosterically modulates the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). Etelcalcetide binds to the CaSR and enhances activation of the receptor by extracellular calcium. Activation of the CaSR on parathyroid chief cells decreases PTH secretion.

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.

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.

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.

Perindopril arginine is a stable L-arginine salt of perindopril. Perindopril, a pro-drug, is hydrolyzed to perindoprilat, which inhibits ACE in humans and in animals. It is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, heart failure and coronary artery disease. Perindopril arginine may be used in monotherapy or in combination with other classes of antihypertensive therapy.

Oritavancin is an glycopeptide antibiotic with bactericidal activity effective in treating infections caused by Gram-positive organisms. It treats complicated skin and skin structure infections. This drug demonstrates similar activity to vancomycin, but it has stronger activity against Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oritavancin appear to be favourable and once-daily dosing is likely. The incidence of multi-drug resistant bacteria is increasing and explorations into additional treatment options are essential. Oritavancin is marketed under the brand name Orbactiv. Orbactiv is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections caused or suspected to be caused by susceptible isolates of designated Gram-positive microorganisms. Oritavancin has the following mechanism of action: 1) Inhibition of the transglycosylation (polymerisation) step of cell wall biosynthesis by binding to the stem peptide of peptidoglycan precursors 2) Inhibition of the transpeptidation (crosslinking) step of cell wall biosynthesis by binding to the peptide bridging segments of the cell wall 3) Disruption of bacterial membrane integrity, leading to depolarisation, increased permeability and rapid cell death.

Sofosbuvir is a nucleotide analog inhibitor of hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase - the key enzyme mediating HCV RNA replication. Sofosbuvir is a prodrug and after ingestion it is rapidly converted to GS-331007, the predominant circulating drug that accounts for greater than 90% of the systemically active drug. The compound GS-331007 is efficiently taken up by hepatocytes, whereby cellular kinases convert GS-331007 to its pharmacologically active uridine analog 5’-triphosphate form (GS-461203). This triphosphate compound mimics the natural cellular uridine nucleotide and is incorporated by the HCV RNA polymerase into the elongating RNA primer strand, resulting in chain termination. The active form GS-461203 targets the NS5B catalytic site and acts as a non-obligate chain terminator. The active compound (GS-461203) does not inhibit host DNA polymerases, RNA polymerases, or mitochondrial RNA polymerase. Sofosbuvir (alone or in in combination with other medications) is used to treat Hepatitis C.

Pasireotide is a synthetic long-acting cyclic hexapeptide with somatostatin-like activity. It is marketed as a diaspartate salt called Signifor, indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Cushing’s disease for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative. SIGNIFOR is an injectable cyclohexapeptide somatostatin analogue. Pasireotide exerts its pharmacological activity via binding to somatostatin receptors (ssts). Pasireotide binds and activates the hsst receptors resulting in inhibition of ACTH secretion, which leads to decreased cortisol secretion.

Carfilzomib is an epoxomicin derivate with potential antineoplastic activity. Kyprolis (carfilzomib's trade name) is a proteasome inhibitor that is indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one or more lines of therapy as a single agent or in combination with dexamethasone or with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone. Carfilzomib is made up of four modified peptides. It irreversibly and selectively binds to N-terminal threonine-containing active sites of the 20S proteasome, the proteolytic core particle within the 26S proteasome. This 20S core has 3 catalytic active sites: the chymotrypsin, trypsin, and caspase-like sites. Inhibition of the chymotrypsin-like site by carfilzomib (β5 and β5i subunits) is the most effective target in decreasing cellular proliferation, ultimately resulting in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of cancerous cells. At higher doses, carfilzomib will inhibit the trypsin-and capase-like sites. Inhibition of proteasome-mediated proteolysis results in an accumulation of polyubiquinated proteins, which may lead to cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of tumor growth.