Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory agent that is FDA approved for the treatment of many conditions, including rheumatic problems, a number of skin diseases, severe allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, croup, brain swelling and others. Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid agonist. Unbound dexamethasone crosses cell membranes and binds with high affinity to specific cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors. Adverse reactions are: Glaucoma with optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects; cataract formation; secondary ocular infection following suppression of host response; and perforation of the globe may occur; muscle weakness; osteoporosis and others. Aminoglutethimide may diminish adrenal suppression by corticosteroids. Macrolide antibiotics have been reported to cause a significant decrease in corticosteroid clearance.

Flumethasone 21-acetate is an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid. It has 300 times greater anti-inflammatory activity and 677 times greater capacity to promote liver glycogen deposition than hydrocortisone. It has anti-rheumatic potency 31 times higher than cortisol.

Alkeus Pharma's lead compound, ALK-001, is an oral compound with a well-understood mechanism of action. ALK-001 was specifically designed to prevent the formation of these toxic vitamin A dimers in the eye. ALK-001 is a chemically-modified vitamin A, in which 3 hydrogen atoms have been replaced by 3 deuterium atoms at carbon number 20. Replacing the retina's vitamin A with ALK-001 slows the formation of toxic vitamin A dimers. ALK-001 is in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of Stargardt's disease. The compound was co-developed by Alkeus Pharmaceuticals and Columbia University.

Osaterone acetate (previously known as TZP-4238), a synthetic steroidal anti-androgen agent. Osaterone acetate is used in veterinary in Europe in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in male dogs. Osaterone acetate inhibits the effects of an excess of male hormone (testosterone) through various mechanisms. It competitively prevents the binding of androgens to their prostatic receptors and blocks the transport of testosterone into the prostate. Osaterone acetate was also investigated in Japan in the treatment of prostate cancer and BPH and, in addition, was studied in postmenopausal osteoporosis in humans. However, these studies were discontinued.