A-4250 (odevixibat) is a selective inhibitor of the ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) that acts locally in the gut. Ileum absorbs glyco-and taurine-conjugated forms of the bile salts. IBAT is the first step in absorption at the brush-border membrane. A-4250 works by decreasing the re-absorption of bile acids from the small intestine to the liver, whichreduces the toxic levels of bile acids during the progression of the disease. It exhibits therapeutic intervention by checking the transport of bile acids. Studies show that A-4250 has the potential to decrease the damage in the liver cells and the development of fibrosis/cirrhosis of the liver known to occur in progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. A-4250 is a designated orphan drug in the USA for October 2012. A-4250 is a designated orphan drug in the EU for October 2016. A-4250 was awarded PRIME status for PFIC by EMA in October 2016. A-4250 is in phase II clinical trials by Albireo for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and cholestatic pruritus. In an open label Phase 2 study in children with cholestatic liver disease and pruritus, odevixibat showed reductions in serum bile acids and pruritus in most patients and exhibited a favorable overall tolerability profile.

Setmelanotide (IMCIVREE™) is a melanocortin-4 (MC4) receptor agonist developed by Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (Rhythm) for the treatment of ultrarare genetic disorders of obesity. Setmelanotide was approved on 27 November 2020 in the USA as a subcutaneous (SC) injectable formulation for chronic weight management in adult and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with obesity due to proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1), or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency confirmed by genetic testing demonstrating variants in POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR genes that are interpreted as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, or of uncertain significance (VUS). Rhythm are also developing the drug for the treatment of obesity associated with other rare genetic disorders including Bardet–Biedl Syndrome, Alström Syndrome, POMC and other MC4R pathway heterozygous defciency obesities, and POMC epigenetic disorders.

L-Acetylleucine is enantiomer of Acetylleucine that used in the treatment of vertigo and cerebellar ataxia. The N-acetyl-L-leucine isomer is the active part of the racemate component since it induces a significant acceleration of the vestibular compensation process similar and even better than that observed under treatment with the racemate component only. Acetylleucine was aggressively marketed in France for vertigo. It may act as a precursor of a peptidic neuromediator responsible for activation of vestibular afferents. It may also have ‘anticalcium’ properties on neurotransmission. Pierre Fabre conducted clinical studies of L-Acetoleusine for Vertigo and Dizzinesstherapy. However, all clinical studies were discontinued

Afamelanotide (SCENESSE) is a synthetic α-melanocyte stimulating hormone analog and first-in-class melanocortin-1 receptor agonist that is approved in the EU for the prevention of phototoxicity in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Afamelanotide differs from endogenous α-melanocyte stimulating hormone at the fourth and seventh amino acid residues, increasing its resistance to immediate degradation and increasing its binding time to melanocortin-1 receptor. Afamelanotide is mimic the pharmacological activity of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone by binding to the melanocortin-1 receptor on melanocytes and activating the synthesis of eumelanin. Eumelanin provides photoprotection through mechanisms including, but not limited to, the absorption and scattering of visible and UV light and antioxidant activity. Afamelanotide increases eumelanin density in healthy volunteers and patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria. In healthy, fair-skinned volunteers, a significant increase in melanin density and skin darkening in both sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed sites was seen with subcutaneous injections of afamelanotide. The most common afamelanotide adverse events included headache and nausea. Common adverse effects include back pain, upper respiratory tract infections, decreased appetite, migraine, and dizziness.

Bremelanotide (formerly PT-141) was developed for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction, hemorrhagic shock, and reperfusion injury. Bremelanotide, a synthetic peptide analog of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is an agonist at melanocortin receptors including the MC3R and MC4R, which are expressed primarily in the central nervous system. Bremelanotide originally was tested for intranasal administration in treating female sexual dysfunction but this application was temporarily discontinued in 2008 after concerns were raised over adverse side effects of increased blood pressure. It appears that development for hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion injury has been discontinued. Palatin Technologies licensed North American development and commercialization rights of bremelanotide to Amag in January 2017. In June 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted AMAG Pharmaceuticals’ new drug application for bremelanotide for treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. If approved, bremelanotide will be available as a self-administered, disposable subcutaneous auto-injector used in anticipation of a sexual encounter.

Gallium edotreotide Ga-68 is a radioconjugate consisting of the octreotide derivative edotreotide labeled with gallium 68 (Ga-68). Similar to octreotide, gallium Ga 68-edotreotide binds to somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), especially type 2 receptors, present on the cell membranes of many types of neuroendocrine tumor cells and their metastases, thereby allowing for imaging of SSTR-expressing cells with positron emission tomography (PET). Gallium edotreotide Ga-68 has been authorized in the EU as SomaKit for the diagnosis of gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. It was investigated in clinical trials for imaging of brain tumors, pituitary tumors and neuroendocrine tumors of various origin.