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.

Vortioxetine is an antidepressant for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Vortioxetine’s mechanism of action is not fully understood. Vortioxetine binds with high affinity to the serotonin transporter and its antidepressant actions are believed to be secondary to enhancing serotonin in the central nervous system through inhibition of reuptake. Vortioxetine also displays binding affinities to other serotonin (5-HT) receptors, including 5-HT3, 5-HT1A, and 5-HT7. Due to multimodal neurotransmitter enhancer profile, it has been suggested that it might need lesser receptor occupancy rate for clinical trials than other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Since vortioxetine is an agonist and antagonist of multiple serotonin receptors, potential interactions may occur with other medications that alter the serotonergic pathways. There is an increased risk of serotonin syndrome when vortioxetine is used in combination with other serotonergic agents.

Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor that is meant to be used as part of combination therapy for the treatment of HIV. Dolutegravir inhibits HIV integrase by binding to the integrase active site and blocking the strand transfer step of retroviral deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integration which is essential for the HIV replication cycle. Dolutegravir coadministered with dofetilide can result in potentially life-threatening adverse events.

Vilanterol (INN, USAN) is an ultra-long-acting β2 adrenoreceptor agonist (ultra-LABA), which was approved in May 2013 in combination with fluticasone furoate for sale as Breo Ellipta by GlaxoSmithKline for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its pharmacological effect is attributable to stimulation of intracellular adenylyl cyclase which catalyzes the conversion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to cyclic-3’,5’-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Increases in cyclic AMP are associated with relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle and inhibition of release of hypersensitivity mediators from mast cells in the lungs. Vilanterol is available in following combinations: a) with inhaled corticosteroid fluticasone furoate — fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (trade names Breo Ellipta , Relvar Ellipta; b) with muscarinic antagonist umeclidinium bromide — umeclidinium bromide/vilanterol (trade name Anoro Ellipta).

Afatinib is a anilino-quinazoline derivative and irreversible antagonist of the receptor tyrosine kinase epidermal growth factor receptor family, with antineoplastic activity. Afatinib selectively and covalently binds to and inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptors 1 (ErbB1; EGFR), 2 (ErbB2; HER2), and 4 (ErbB4; HER4), and certain EGFR mutants, including those caused by EGFR exon 19 deletion mutations or exon 21 (L858R) mutations. This may result in the inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis in tumor cells overexpressing these kinases. Additionally, afatinib inhibits the EGFR T790M gatekeeper mutation which is resistant to treatment with first-generation EGFR inhibitors. EGFR, HER2 and HER4 are RTKs that belong to the EGFR superfamily; they play major roles in both tumor cell proliferation and tumor vascularization and are overexpressed in many cancer cell types. Afatinib is a substrate and an inhibitor of P-gp and of the transporter BCRP. Co-administration of P-gp inhibitors can increase afatinib exposure while co-administration of chronic P­gp inducers can decrease afatinib exposure.

Canagliflozin (INN, trade name Invokana or Sulisent) is a drug of the gliflozin class. It was developed by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and is marketed under license by Janssen, a division of Johnson & Johnson. Canagliflozin is an antidiabetic drug used to improve glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2), expressed in the proximal renal tubules, is responsible for the majority of the reabsorption of filtered glucose from the tubular lumen. Canagliflozin is an inhibitor of SGLT2. By inhibiting SGLT2, canagliflozin reduces reabsorption of filtered glucose and lowers the renal threshold for glucose (RTG), and thereby increases urinary glucose excretion. In extensive clinical trials, canagliflozin produced a consistent dose-dependent reduction in HbA1c of 0.77% to 1.16% when administered as monotherapy, combination with metformin, combination with metformin and a sulfonylurea, combination with metformin and pioglitazone, and in combination with insulin from a baselines of 7.8% to 8.1%, in combination with metformin, or in combination with metformin and a sulfonylurea. When added to metformin, canagliflozin 100 mg was shown to be non-inferior to both sitagliptin 100 mg and glimepiride in reductions on HbA1c at one year, whilst canagliflozin 300 mg successfully demonstrated statistical superiority over both sitagliptin and glimiperide in HbA1c reductions. Secondary efficacy endpoint of superior body weight reduction and blood pressure reduction (versus sitagliptin and glimiperide)) were observed as well. Canagliflozin produces beneficial effects on HDL cholesterol whilst increasing LDL cholesterol to produce no change in total cholesterol.

Cobicistat (GS-9350) is a potent, and selective inhibitor of human cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) enzymes. Cobicistat is a pharmacokinetic booster of several antiretrovirals. TYBOST (cobicistat) is indicated to increase systemic exposure of atazanavir or darunavir in combination with other antiretroviral agents in the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

Cabozantinib (development code name XL184; marketed under the trade name Cometriq) is an orally bioavailable, small molecule receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor with potential antineoplastic activity. Cabozantinib strongly binds to and inhibits several RTKs, which are often overexpressed in a variety of cancer cell types, including hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET), RET (rearranged during transfection), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor types 1 (VEGFR-1), 2 (VEGFR-2), and 3 (VEGFR-3), mast/stem cell growth factor (KIT), FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT-3), TIE-2 (TEK tyrosine kinase, endothelial), tropomyosin-related kinase B (TRKB) and AXL. This may result in an inhibition of both tumor growth and angiogenesis, and eventually lead to tumor regression. Cabozantinib was granted orphan drug status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2011. It is currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of prostate, bladder, ovarian, brain, melanoma, breast, non-small cell lung, pancreatic, hepatocellular and kidney cancers.

Ponatinib (trade name Iclusig, previously AP24534) is developed by ARIAD Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph ) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Ponatinib has been designed to be effective against these types of tumors. The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the drug as a candidate in 2012, but temporarily suspended sales on 31 October 2013 because of "the risk of life-threatening blood clots and severe narrowing of blood vessels". This suspension was partially lifted on Dec. 20, 2013 with ponatinib being issued revised prescribing information, a new "Black Box Warning" and a "Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy" in place to better evaluate the risks and benefits of using the drug. Ponatinib is an orally bioavailable multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor with potential antiangiogenic and antineoplastic activities. Ponatinib inhibits unmutated and all mutated forms of Bcr-Abl, including T315I, the highly drug therapy-resistant missense mutation of Bcr-Abl. This agent also inhibits other tyrosine kinases including those associated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) and fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs); in addition, it inhibits the tyrosine kinase receptor TIE2 and FMS-related tyrosine kinase receptor-3 (Flt3). RTK inhibition by ponatinib may result in the inhibition of cellular proliferation and angiogenesis and may induce cell death. Bcr-Abl is a fusion tyrosine kinase encoded by the Philadelphia chromosome.

Bosutinib (trade name Bosulif) originally synthesized by Wyeth, it is being developed by Pfizer. Bosutinib received US FDA and EU European Medicines Agency approval on September 4, 2012 and 27 March 2013 respectively for the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) with resistance, or intolerance to prior therapy. Bosutinib is a synthetic quinolone derivative and dual kinase inhibitor that targets both Abl and Src kinases with potential antineoplastic activity. Unlike imatinib, bosutinib inhibits the autophosphorylation of both Abl and Src kinases, resulting in inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis. Because of the dual mechanism of action, this agent may have activity in resistant CML disease, other myeloid malignancies and solid tumors. Abl kinase is upregulated in the presence of the abnormal Bcr-abl fusion protein which is commonly associated with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Overexpression of specific Src kinases is also associated with the imatinib-resistant CML phenotype.