Mavacamten (Camzyos™; MYK-461) is an oral small-molecule cardiac myosin inhibitor developed by MyoKardia, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bristol Myers Squibb, for the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and diseases of diastolic dysfunction. Mavacamten is an allosteric and reversible inhibitor selective for cardiac myosin. Mavacamten modulates the number of myosin heads that can enter “on actin” (power-generating) states, thus reducing the probability of force-producing (systolic) and residual (diastolic) cross-bridge formation. Excess myosin actin cross-bridge formation and dysregulation of the super-relaxed state are mechanistic hallmarks of HCM. Mavacamten shifts the overall myosin population towards an energy-sparing, recruitable, super-relaxed state. In HCM patients, myosin inhibition with mavacamten reduces dynamic LVOT obstruction and improves cardiac filling pressures. In April 2022, mavacamten was approved for use in the USA in the treatment of adults with symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-III obstructive HCM to improve functional capacity and symptoms.

PF-04965842 is an orally administered selective Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor. PF-04965842 is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Tapinarof (also known as benvitimod, WB-1001; GSK-2894512), a therapeutic aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist that selectively modulates the cytokine cascade deep under the skin, a process that rapidly decreases inflammations and skin plague. Tapinarof cream 1% (VTAMA®) is being developed by Dermavant Sciences Inc. (a subsidiary of Roivant Sciences Inc.) as a once-daily topical treatment for plaque psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In May 2022, tapinarof cream 1% was approved in the USA for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis in adults. Tapinarof cream 1% is also being investigated for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Vonoprazan (Vonoprazan fumarate or TAK-438) under brand name Takecab, discovered by Takeda, is a new medicine for treating acid-related diseases with a novel mechanism of action called potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) which competitively inhibits the binding of potassium ions to H+,K+-ATPase (also known as the proton pump) in the final step of gastric acid secretion in gastric parietal cells. The drug is approved in Japan for the treatment of acid-related diseases, including gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, reflux esophagitis and Adjunct to Helicobacter pylori eradication in the case of Helicobacter pylori gastritis.

Oteseconazole (VIVJOA™) is an orally administered azole antifungal agent developed by Mycovia Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of fungal infections. It inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) 51, thereby affecting the formation and integrity of the fungal cell membrane, but has a low affinity for human CYP enzymes due to its tetrazole metal-binding group. Oteseconazole is the first agent to be approved (in April 2022) for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) in the USA, where it is indicated to reduce the incidence of RVVC in females with a history of RVVC who are NOT of reproductive potential. Clinical development for the treatment of onychomycosis, and invasive and opportunistic infections is ongoing.

Trofinetide (NNZ 2566), a proprietary small molecule analogue of glycine-proline-glutamate [Glypromate®], is being developed by Neuren Pharmaceuticals and Acadia Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of brain injuries, fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome. Trofinetide is a synthetic analogue of a naturally occurring neurotrophic peptide derived from IGF-1, a growth factor produced by brain cells. In animal models, trofinetide exhibits a wide range of important effects including inhibiting neuroinflammation, normalizing the role of microglia and correcting deficits in synaptic function. Trofinetide was approved in March 2023 in the USA for the treatment of Rett syndrome in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older.

Ganaxolone (3alpha-hydroxy-3beta-methyl-5alpha-pregnan-20-one) (GNX) is the 3beta-methylated synthetic analog of allopregnanolone; it belongs to a class of compounds referred to as neurosteroids. GNX is an allosteric modulator of GABA(A) receptors acting through binding sites which are distinct from the benzodiazepine binding site. It has activity in a broad range of animal models of epilepsy. GNX has been shown to be well tolerated in adults and children. In early phase II studies, GNX has been shown to have activity in adult patients with partial-onset seizures and epileptic children with history of infantile spasms. It is currently undergoing further development in infants with newly diagnosed infantile spasms, in women with catamenial epilepsy, and in adults with refractory partial-onset seizures. Ganaxolone is a CNS-selective GABAA modulator being developed in three different dose forms (IV, capsule, and liquid) intended to maximize therapeutic reach to adult and pediatric patients in both acute and chronic care settings.Ganaxolone is a synthetic analog of endogenous allopregnanolone, which has been shown to be an effective anticonvulsant by restoring electrical balance to the seizing brain. While allopregnanolone’s anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety activities are well documented, allopregnanolone has the potential to convert back to its metabolic precursor progesterone, which could lead to hormonal side effects. Ganaxolone has been designed with an added methyl group that prevents back conversion to an active steroid which unlocks ganaxolone’s potential for chronic use. In preclinical studies, ganaxolone exhibited potency and efficacy comparable to allopregnanolone. Both ganaxolone and allopregnanolone bind to GABAA at the synaptic and extrasynaptic binding sites. Activity with extrasynaptic GABAA receptors are of particular importance for treating patients who developed tolerance to benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Ganaxolone binds to the GABAA receptors, which opens the pore to allow chloride ions to move into the postsynaptic neuron, leading to the inhibition of neurotransmission.

ABL-001 (asciminib), a potent and selective allosteric tyrosine-protein kinase ABL1 inhibitor that is undergoing clinical development testing in patients with Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia Chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. is a tyrosine-protein kinase ABL1 inhibitor. In contrast to catalytic-site ABL1 kinase inhibitors, ABL001 binds to the myristoyl pocket of ABL1 and induces the formation of an inactive kinase conformation. ABL001 and second-generation catalytic inhibitors have similar cellular potencies but distinct patterns of resistance mutations, with genetic barcoding studies revealing pre-existing clonal populations with no shared resistance between ABL001 and the catalytic inhibitor nilotinib. ABL001 was tested on mice with a particularly aggressive type of CML. The combination of ABL001 and nilotinib led to complete disease control and eradicated CML xenograft tumors without recurrence after the cessation of treatment. ABL001 is being tested in clinical trials for treatment of CML and Philadelphia Chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia alone and in combination with niotinib, imatinib or dasatinib.

Ponesimod is an experimental drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) graft-versus-host disease and psoriasis. It acts on certain types of white blood cells (lymphocytes) which are involved in the autoimmune attack on myelin seen in multiple sclerosis (MS). Ponesimod is an orally active, reversible, and selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR1) modulator. The drug is in phase II clinical trial for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease. In addition, the phase III clinical trial comparing ponesimod to teriflunomide in relapsing-remitting MS is ongoing.