Hero drug molecules fight the evil forces of diseases, wayward immune systems, and infections. The year witnessed the entry of some new drugs with a highly effective mechanism of action and some old ones which proved their mettle in curing illnesses they weren’t even intended to cure! Here are some such drugs which exhibited super-biological potential this year:
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4-aminopyridine (4-AP)
This drug is a potassium channel blocker that provides symptomatic relief in some chronic neurological afflictions such as multiple sclerosis. However, repurposing studies on it discovered that it offers significant promise as a regenerative agent for acute traumatic nerve injury. A mouse model of sciatic crush injury sustained early 4-AP administration and was observed for increased speed and extent of behavioral recovery. This finding proved that 4-AP enhanced recovery of nerve conduction velocity by promoting remyelination post a traumatic injury. Since there aren't any effective treatment options for traumatic peripheral nerve damage, the drug is extremely promising.
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MSDC-0160
An insulin sensitive drug, initially designed to treat type 2 diabetes, appears to tackle the underlying causes of Parkinson's. The findings show that MSDC-0160 could be the breakthrough medical science has been waiting for. MSDC-0160 is an mTOT (mitochondrial target of thiazolidinediones) modulator, i.e., it regulates the function of mitochondria. It appears to restore brain cells' ability to convert nutrients into usable energy. Once the cell's power is restored, it is able to handle the buildup of potentially harmful proteins. In turn, this reduces inflammation and brain cell death.
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Cinqair (Reslizumab)
For patients who have a history of severe asthma exacerbations despite receiving their current asthma medicines, the U.S. FDA approved this drug for the maintenance treatment of severe asthma in patients aged 18 years and older. Cinqair is administered intravenously once every 4 weeks by a healthcare professional in a clinical setting prepared to manage anaphylaxis.
Cinqair is a humanized interleukin-5 antagonist monoclonal antibody produced by recombinant DNA technology in murine myeloma non-secreting 0 (NS0) cells and reduces severe asthma attacks by reducing the levels of blood eosinophils.
Cinqair is manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals in Frazer, Pennsylvania.
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Xiidra
Also approved by the U.S. FDA this year, Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) is a drug employed to treat the symptoms of dry eye disease. Xiidra is manufactured by Shire US Inc., of Lexington, Massachusetts and is the first medication in a new class of drugs, called lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) antagonist.
The safety and efficacy of Xiidra was assessed in over a thousand patients, in four separate, randomized, controlled studies. These studies included patients 19–97 years of age, of which the major chunk were females. Patients were randomized equally to receive either Xiidra eyedrops or placebo eyedrops, which were used twice a day for 12 weeks. The studies revealed that groups treated with Xiidra demonstrated better improvement in eye dryness than those treated with placebo.
Pharma MOA (Mechanism of Action)
No blockbuster drug gets released without a full-length 3D Pharma MOA animation. And the reason is clear; a high-quality molecular animation plays like a movie. Hero drug molecules fight the evil forces of diseases, wayward immune systems and infections. Read More..
