Vadadustat is an Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase (PH) enzyme inhibitor. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have reduced levels of erythropoietin (EPO) and iron in the body, which can result in decreased number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells (RBCs) (anemia). The deficiency in RBCs causes inadequate oxygen delivery to cells and tissues. Vadadustat simulates the hypoxia response pathway by stabilizing key regulatory proteins called HIFs. Under normal conditions, when sufficient oxygen is present, HIF proteins are targeted for degradation by HIF-PH to maintain homeostasis in RBC production. Under conditions of hypoxia, HIF-PH activity is reduced, resulting in HIF stabilization. Stable HIF moves to the nucleus, where it activates target genes that increase EPO synthesis, resulting in the production of new RBCs, and suppression of hepcidin to promote iron absorption and mobilization. Vadadustat is currently in the phase 3 stage of development for the treatment of anemia secondary to CKD.

Nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332) is a new oral antiviral drug developed by Pfizer. Nirmatrelvir is a major bioavailable oral SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor with in vitro human coronavirus antiviral activity, and excellent selection of off-target and in vivo immune profiles. The combination of ritonavir and nirmatrelvir under the brand name Paxlovid was approved by the FDA on May 25, 2023, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. Nirmatrelvir is a peptidomimetic inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), also referred to as 3C-like protease (3CLpro) or nonstructural protein 5 (nsp5) protease. Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro renders it incapable of processing the viral polyproteins pp1a and pp1ab, preventing viral replication. Nirmatrelvir inhibited the activity of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in a biochemical assay with a Ki value of 3.1 nM and an IC50 value of 19.2 nM. Nirmatrelvir was found to bind directly to the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro active site by X-ray crystallography.

Biafungin (formerly SP 3025 or CD101), a highly stable echinocandin and an antifungal drug that was studied against panels of Candida and Aspergillus clinical isolates. Biafungin was involved in phase II clinical trials in the treatment of acute moderate to severe vulvovaginal candidiasis. Seachaid Pharmaceuticals invented this drug. Then Cidara Therapeutics acquired a worldwide exclusive license to develop and commercialize the drug.

Elacestrant (ER-306323 or RAD 1901 [6R)-6-(2-(N-(4-(2-(ethylamino)ethyl)benzyl)-N-ethylamino)-4-methoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-ol dihydrochloride]) is an estrogen receptor antagonist that binds to estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα). In ERpositive (ER ) HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer cells, elacestrant inhibited 17β-estradiol mediated cell proliferation at concentrations inducing degradation of ERα protein mediated through proteasomal pathway. Elacestrant demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity including in ER HER2- breast cancer models resistant to fulvestrant and cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors and those harboring estrogen receptor 1 gene (ESR1) mutations. On January 27, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved elacestrant (Orserdu, Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.) for postmenopausal women or adult men with ER-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following at least one line of endocrine therapy.

Selpercatinib (LOXO-292, ARRY-192) is a potent and specific RET (c-RET) inhibitor that was granted accelerated FDA approval on May 8, 2020, for specific RET-driven cancer indications. It is currently marketed under the brand name RETEVMO™ by Loxo Oncology Inc.

Pralsetinib (GAVRETO™, Blueprint Medicines Corporation) is an orally-administered, next-generation, small-molecule selective rearranged during transfection (RET) inhibitor being developed for the treatment of various solid tumours. RET is a well described proto-oncogene present in multiple cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), papillary thyroid cancer, and medullary thyroid carcinoma. Pralsetinib is a kinase inhibitor of wild-type RET and oncogenic RET fusions (CCDC6-RET) and mutations (RET V804L, RET V804M and RET M918T) with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) less than 0.5 nM. In purified enzyme assays, pralsetinib inhibited DDR1, TRKC, FLT3, JAK1-2, TRKA, VEGFR2, PDGFRb, and FGFR1 at higher concentrations that were still clinically achievable at Cmax. In cellular assays, pralsetinib inhibited RET at approximately 14-, 40-, and 12-fold lower concentrations than VEGFR2, FGFR2, and JAK2, respectively. Pralsetinib is approved for the treatment of RET fusion-positive metastatic NSCLC. In the pivotal phase I/II ARROW trial, pralsetinib demonstrated rapid and durable anti-tumour activity in patients with advanced RET fusion-positive NSCLC who were previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy or were treatment-naïve. Pralsetinib also showed clinical activity against intracranial metastases arising from NSCLC. Pralsetinib had a manageable tolerability profile, with the most common grade 3 treatment-related adverse events being neutropenia, hypertension, anaemia and decreased white blood cell count.

Entrectinib (previously known as RXDX-101, NMS-E628) is an investigational drug, potent inhibitor of ALK, ROS1, and, importantly, of TRK family kinases, which shows promise for therapy of tumors bearing oncogenic forms of these proteins. Entrectinib (RXDX-101) is a selective inhibitor for all three Trk receptor tyrosine kinases encoded by the three NTRK genes, as well as the ROS1 and ALKreceptor tyrosine kinases.This investigational drug is active at low nanomolar concentrations, allowing for once-daily oral administration to patients whose tumors have been shown to have gene rearrangements in NTRK, ROS1, or ALK. Nerviano Medical Sciences, the original sponsor for entrectinib (formerly referred to as NMS-1191372), initiated the first-in-human Phase 1 study ALKA-372-001 in Italy in October 2012. The study is currently ongoing in Italy. Entrectinib is currently being tested in a global phase 2 basket clinical trial called STARTRK-2. In the U.S., entrectinib has orphan drug designation and rare pediatric disease designation for the treatment of neuroblastoma and orphan drug designation for treatment of TrkA-, TrkB-, TrkC-, ROS1- and ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Cannabidiol is the major nonpsychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Cannabidiol demonstrates a range of effects that may be therapeutically useful, including anti-seizure, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-tumor, anti-psychotic, and anti-anxiety properties. Exact mechanism of action of cannabidiol is not known, but may include effects on the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor GPR55; the transient receptor potential of vanilloid type-1 channel; the 5-HT1a receptor; and the α3 glycine receptors. GW Pharmaceuticals successfully developed the world’s first prescription medicine derived from the cannabis plant, Sativex® (buccal spray containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol) now approved in over 29 countries outside of the United States for the treatment of spasticity due to Multiple Sclerosis. GW Pharmaceuticals is developing Epidiolex® (a liquid formulation of pure plant-derived cannabidiol) for certain rare and severe early-onset, drug-resistant epilepsy syndromes.

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.

Vandetanib, 4-anilinoquinazoline, is an anti-cancer drug that with the potential for use in a broad range of tumour types. In 2011 vandetanib (trade name Caprelsa) was approved by the FDA to treat nonresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer in adult patients. In vitro studies have shown that vandetanib inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity of the EGFR and VEGFR families, RET, BRK, TIE2, and members of the EPH receptor and Src kinase families. These receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in both normal cellular function and pathologic processes such as oncogenesis, metastasis, tumor angiogenesis, and maintenance of the tumor microenvironment. Vandetanib was shown to inhibit epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated receptor tyrosine kinase phosphorylation in tumor cells and endothelial cells and VEGF-stimulated tyrosine kinase phosphorylation in endothelial cells. Vandetanib administration reduced tumor cell-induced angiogenesis, tumor vessel permeability, and inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in mouse models of cancer.