BioLineRx Ltd has developed BL-8040, a short peptide for the treatment of solid tumors, acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, and stem-cell mobilization for bone-marrow transplantation. BL-8040 acts as CXCR4 antagonist. CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor that is directly involved in tumor progression, angiogenesis, metastasis, and cell survival. In February 2019 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation to BL-8040, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Previously FDA had granted Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and stem-cell mobilization.

OTL-38 (OTL-0038, Pafolacianine), a fluorescent-labelled folate receptor-α (FRα) targeted imaging agent that accumulates in vivo in tumor cells expressing FR. In 2014, the OTL-38 molecule was granted orphan drug status which can be given to the maker of a drug that treats rare conditions or diseases and offers protection from competition for a period of time. OTL-38 under the brand name Cytalux was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 29 November 2021, as an additional approach that can be used to identify malignant lesions and to ensure the total resection of the tumors in ovarian cancer patients. Cytalux is a fluorescent drug that targets folate receptor which may be overexpressed in ovarian cancer. Pafolacianine binds to FR-expressing cancer cells with ~1 nM affinity, internalizes via receptor mediated endocytosis, and concentrates in FR-positive cancer tissues. Pafolacianine absorbs light in the near-infrared region within a range of 760 nm to 785 nm with peak absorption of 776 nm and emits fluorescence within a range of 790 nm to 815 nm with a peak emission of 796 nm.

Fostemsavir (BMS-663068) is an investigational attachment inhibitor with a unique mechanism of action. It is a prodrug of temsavir, which binds to HIV envelope glycoprotein 120 (gp120), thereby preventing viral attachment to the host CD4 cell surface receptor. In the absence of effective binding of HIV gp120 with the host CD4 receptor, HIV does not enter the host cell. Because fostemsavir has a novel mechanism of action, the drug should have full activity against HIV strains that have developed resistance to other classes of antiretroviral medications. In a phase 2b study of treatment-experienced individuals, fostemsavir appeared to be well tolerated. Phase 3 studies are ongoing.

Revefenacin (trade name Yupelri is a long-acting muscarinic antagonist developed by Mylan Ireland ltd for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has similar affinity to the subtypes of muscarinic receptors M1 to M5. In the airways, it exhibits pharmacological effects through inhibition of M3 receptor at the smooth muscle leading to bronchodilation. The competitive and reversible nature of antagonism was shown with human and animal origin receptors and isolated organ preparations. In preclinical in vitro as well as in vivo models, prevention of methacholine- and acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstrictive effects was dose-dependent and lasted longer than 24 hours.

Pralatrexate (PDX or 10-propargyl-10-deazaaminopterin) is a folate analogue that is internalised by the reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC-1) protein, and polyglutamylated by the enzyme folylpolyglutamyl synthetase (FPGS), resulting in accumulation of the antifolate. Pralatrexate, a methotrexate analogue, is intended as an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), an enzyme which catalyses the reduction of dihydrofolic acid to tetrahydrofolic acid. Inhibition of DHFR leads to a depletion of intracellular reduced folate stores, thereby leading to a disruption of DNA synthesis. Preclinical studies in vitro and in models of B-cell lymphomas, T-cell lymphomas and NSCLC indicated that pralatrexate exhibited antitumor activity that was superior to the activity of other antifolates. FOLOTYN (pralatrexate injection) is indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

Dronedarone is an antiarrhythmic that is FDA approved for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients in sinus rhythm with a history of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Dronedarone is multichannel blocker. Common adverse reactions include abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, asthenia and raised serum creatinine. Dronedarone has potentially important pharmacodynamics interactions: Digoxin: Consider discontinuation or halve dose of digoxin before treatment and monitor; Calcium channel blockers (CCB): Initiate CCB with low dose and increase after ECG verification of tolerability; Beta-blockers: May provoke excessive bradycardia, Initiate with low dose and increase after ECG verification of tolerability.

Micafungin (trade name Mycamine) is an echinocandin antifungal drug. Micafungin, the active ingredient in Mycamine, inhibits the synthesis of 1,3-β-D-glucan, an essential component of fungal cell walls, which is not present in mammalian cells. Micafungin is indicated for the treatment of candidemia, acute disseminated candidiasis, Candida peritonitis, abscesses and esophageal candidiasis. Possible histamine-mediated symptoms have been reported with Mycamine, including rash, pruritus, facial swelling and vasodilatation.

Pemetrexed is a new-generation antifolate, approved for the treatment of mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer, currently being evaluated for the treatment of a variety of other solid tumors. Pemetrexed, is a folate analog metabolic inhibitor that exerts its action by disrupting folate-dependent metabolic processes essential for cell replication. In vitro studies have shown that pemetrexed inhibits thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT) and and to a lesser extent aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICARFT), which are folate-dependent enzymes involved in the de novo biosynthesis of thymidine and purine nucleotides. Pemetrexed is taken into cells by membrane carriers such as the reduced folate carrier and membrane folate binding protein transport systems. Once in the cell, pemetrexed is converted to polyglutamate forms by the enzyme folylpolyglutamate synthetase. The polyglutamate forms are retained in cells and are inhibitors of TS and GARFT. Polyglutamation is a time- and concentration-dependent process that occurs in tumor cells and, is thought to occur to a lesser extent, in normal tissues. Polyglutamated metabolites are thought to have an increased intracellular half-life resulting in prolonged drug action in malignant cells.