Bendamustine, brand name Treanda, is a chemotherapeutic agent that displays a unique pattern of cytotoxicity compared with conventional alkylating agents. Treanda is indicated for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in addition Trenda in phase III of clinical trial for the treatment patients with indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within six months of treatment with rituximab or a rituximab-containing regimen. Bendamustine is a bifunctional mechlorethamine derivative. Mechlorethamine and its derivatives dissociate into electrophilic alkyl groups. These groups form covalent bonds with electron-rich nucleophilic moieties. The bifunctional covalent linkage can lead to cell death via several pathways. The exact mechanism of action of bendamustine remains unknown. Molecular analyses have revealed that bendamustine differs from other alkylating agents in its mechanism of action. Differences have been observed about its effects on DNA repair and cell cycle progression. Moreover, bendamustine can induce cell death through both apoptotic and nonapoptotic pathways, thereby retaining activity even in cells without a functional apoptotic pathway. Bendamustine possesses the typical adverse reactions for the nitrogen mustards, and include nausea, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, constipation, loss of appetite, cough, headache, unintentional weight loss.

Ambrisentan (alternative Names: BSF 208075; GSK 1325760; GSK1325760A; Letairis) is an endothelin receptor antagonist that is selective for the endothelin type-A (ETA) receptor. The chemical name of ambrisentan is (+)-(2S)-2-[(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)oxy]-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropanoic acid. Ambrisentan is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is approved in Europe, Canada and the United States for use as a single agent to improve exercise ability and delay clinical worsening. In addition, it is approved in the United States for use in combination with tadalafil to reduce the risks of disease progression, hospitalization and to improve exercise ability. As an endothelin receptor antagonist, ambrisentan prevents endogenous endothelin peptide from constricting the muscles in blood vessels, allowing them to relax and permit a reduction in blood pressure. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent autocrine and paracrine peptide. Two receptor subtypes, ETA and ETB, mediate the effects of ET-1 in the vascular smooth muscle and endothelium. The primary actions of ETA are vasoconstriction and cell proliferation, while the predominant actions of ETB are vasodilation, antiproliferation, and ET-1 clearance. In patients with PAH, plasma ET-1 concentrations are increased as much as 10-fold and correlate with increased mean right atrial pressure and disease severity. ET-1 and ET-1 mRNA concentrations are increased as much as 9-fold in the lung tissue of patients with PAH, primarily in the endothelium of pulmonary arteries. These findings suggest that ET-1 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of PAH. Ambrisentan is a high-affinity (Ki=0.011 nM) ETA receptor antagonist with a high selectivity for the ETA versus ETB receptor (>4000-fold). The clinical impact of high selectivity for ETA is not known.

Fluticasone furoate is a synthetic trifluorinated corticosteroid with potent anti-inflammatory activity. Fluticasone furoate is a anti-allergic agents that is FDA approved for the treatment of symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, asthma and for reducing exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Fluticasone furoate has been shown in vitro to exhibit a binding affinity for the human glucocorticoid receptor. The clinical relevance of these findings is unknown. The most common adverse reactions (>1% incidence) included headache, epistaxis, pharyngolaryngeal pain, nasal ulceration, back pain, pyrexia, and cough. Coadministration of ritonavir is not recommended. Use caution with coadministration of other potent CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole.

Retapamulin is a topical antibiotic which was approved by FDA (Altabax brand name) for the treatment of impetigo due to Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible isolates only) or Streptococcus pyogenes. Retapamulin exerts its antibacterial action by binding to 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome.

Lubiprostone is a medication used in the management of idiopathic chronic constipation. It is a bicyclic fatty acid (prostaglandin E1 derivative) which acts by specifically activating ClC-2 chloride channels on the apical aspect of gastrointestinal epithelial cells, producing a chloride-rich fluid secretion. These secretions soften the stool, increase motility, and promote spontaneous bowel movements (SBM). Lubiprostone acts by specifically activating ClC-2 chloride channels, which is a normal constituent of the apical membrane of the human intestine, in a protein kinase A action independent fashion. Activation of ClC-2 chloride channels causes an efflux of chloride ions into the lumen, which in turn leads to an efflux of sodium ions through a paracellular pathway to maintain isoelectric neutrality. As a result, water follows sodium into the lumen in order to maintain isotonic equilibrium, thereby increasing intestinal fluid secretion. By increasing intestinal fluid secretion, lubiprostone increases motility in the intestine, thereby increasing the passage of stool and alleviating symptoms associated with chronic idiopathic constipation. Activation of ClC-2 chloride channels may also stimulate the recovery of muscosal barrier function by restoring tight junction protein complexes in the intestine. Patch clamp cell studies in human cell lines have indicated that the majority of the beneficial biological activity of lubiprostone and its metabolites is observed only on the apical (luminal) portion of the gastrointestinal epithelium. Lubiprostone is marketed under the trade name Amitiza among others.

Vorinostat (rINN) or suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), is a drug currently under investigation for the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). Vorinostat inhibits the enzymatic activity of histone deacetylases HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC3 (Class I) and HDAC6 (Class II) at nanomolar concentrations (IC50< 86 nM). These enzymes catalyze the removal of acetyl groups from the lysine residues of histones proteins. In some cancer cells, there is an overexpression of HDACs, or an aberrant recruitment of HDACs to oncogenic transcription factors causing hypoacetylation of core nucleosomal histones. By inhibiting histone deacetylase, vorinostat causes the accumulation of acetylated histones and induces cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis of some transformed cells. The mechanism of the antineoplastic effect of vorinostat has not been fully characterized. Vorinostat is used for the treatment of cutaneous manifestations in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma who have progressive, persistent or recurrent disease on or following two systemic therapies. Vorinostat is marketed under the name Zolinza by Merck for the treatment of cutaneous manifestations in patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) when the disease persists, gets worse, or comes back during or after two systemic therapies.

Also called Ecamsule (technical name terephthalylidine dicamphor sulfonic acid), Mexoryl SX is a synthetic sunscreen agent developed and patented by L’Oreal and used in the company’s sunscreen products sold outside the United States since 1993 (approved for use in Europe in 1991). Ecamsule affords broad spectrum protection against the sun’s UVB and UVA rays. Exposed to UV, ecamsule undergoes reversible photoisomerization, followed by photoexcitation. The absorbed UV is then released as thermal energy, without penetrating the skin. The UVB range is 280 to 320 nanometers, and the UVA range is 320 to 400. Ecamsule protects against UV wavelengths in the 290–400 nanometer range, with peak protection at 345 nm.[3][4] Since ecamsule doesn't cover the entire UV spectrum, it should be combined with other active sunscreen agents to ensure broad-spectrum UV protection. Ecamsule is a photostable organic UVA absorber, meaning it doesn't degrade significantly when exposed to light.

Darunavir (trade name Prezista) is an orally active bis-furan-sulfonamide inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) protease. Darunavir was developed by Tibotec Pharmaceuticals (now Janssen R&D Ireland). Darunavir is indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adult and pediatric patients 3 years of age and older. The drug is co-administered with low-dose ritonavir and other anti-HIV agents. It is the only antiretroviral that has been registered at two different doses, 800/100 mg once-daily or 600/100 mg twice-daily, allowing its administration throughout the entire course of HIV disease, from naive subjects without any HIV-1 resistance to heavily treatment-experienced subjects with widespread triple-class family resistance.

Deferasirox (marketed as Exjade, Desirox, Deferasirox) is an iron chelator. Its main use is to reduce chronic iron overload in patients who are receiving long term blood transfusions for conditions such as beta-thalassemia and other chronic anemias. It is the first oral medication approved for this purpose in the USA by FDA in November 2005. It is approved in the European Union by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for children 6 years and older for chronic iron overload from repeated blood transfusions. Deferasirox is highly selective for iron as Fe3+. In approximately 1-year clinical trials of patients with transfusional chronic iron overload associated with beta-thalassaemia, sickle cell disease, myelodysplastic syndrome or other rare chronic anaemias, deferasiroxhad a beneficial effect on liver iron concentrations (LIC) and serum ferritin levels. Deferasirox can cause acute renal failure, fatal in some patients and requiring dialysis in others. It was showed that most fatalities occurred in patients with multiple comorbidities in advanced stages of their hematological disorders.