Introduction Apalutamide is an oral targeted anticancer drug marketed under the brand name Erleada. Pharmacologically, apalutamide is an androgen receptor inhibitor used in prostate cancer. Prostate cancer growth is often driven by androgen signaling. Androgens such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone bind to androgen receptors inside prostate cancer cells. Once activated, androgen receptors move into the … Read more
Introduction Fostamatinib is an oral targeted drug marketed under the brand name Tavalisse. Pharmacologically, fostamatinib is a spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor, commonly called a SYK inhibitor. Immune thrombocytopenia, or ITP, is an autoimmune bleeding disorder in which platelets are destroyed faster than they can be replaced. In chronic ITP, autoantibodies bind to platelets and mark … Read more
Introduction Ingrezza is the brand name of valbenazine, an oral drug used for movement disorders caused by abnormal monoamine signaling in the brain. Pharmacologically, valbenazine is a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitor, commonly called a VMAT2 inhibitor. VMAT2 is a transporter present on synaptic vesicles inside presynaptic neurons. Its normal role is to move monoamine … Read more
Introduction Solriamfetol is an oral wakefulness-promoting drug marketed under the brand name Sunosi. Pharmacologically, solriamfetol is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, commonly abbreviated as DNRI. Excessive daytime sleepiness is a major symptom in narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. In narcolepsy, sleep-wake regulation is disturbed, often due to abnormalities in wake-promoting and REM sleep-regulating pathways. … Read more
Introduction Tysabri is the brand name of natalizumab, a biologic immunomodulator used mainly in multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. Pharmacologically, natalizumab is a recombinant humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that targets alpha-4 integrin. Alpha-4 integrins are adhesion molecules found on the surface of many leukocytes. These molecules help immune cells attach to blood vessel walls and … Read more
Introduction Sotorasib is an oral targeted anticancer drug marketed under the brand name Lumakras. Pharmacologically, sotorasib is a KRAS G12C inhibitor and belongs to the class of RAS GTPase inhibitors. KRAS is an important intracellular signaling protein involved in cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis regulation. Normally, KRAS works like a molecular switch. It … Read more
Introduction Axitinib is an oral targeted anticancer drug marketed under the brand name Inlyta. Pharmacologically, axitinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that mainly blocks vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, also called VEGFRs. Renal cell carcinoma is a highly vascular tumor, meaning it depends strongly on blood vessel formation for growth and spread. Tumor cells … Read more
Introduction Cimzia is the brand name of certolizumab pegol, a biologic anti-inflammatory drug used in several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Pharmacologically, Cimzia is a tumor necrosis factor blocker, commonly called a TNF inhibitor or anti-TNF drug. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or TNF-alpha, is a major pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in immune-cell activation, cytokine release, leukocyte migration, endothelial activation, … Read more
Introduction Relugolix is an oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist, also called a GnRH receptor antagonist or LHRH receptor antagonist. It is used as relugolix alone under the brand name Orgovyx for adult patients with advanced prostate cancer. Relugolix is also present in the combination product Myfembree, which contains relugolix, estradiol, and norethindrone acetate for selected … Read more
Introduction Ocrelizumab is a monoclonal antibody used in multiple sclerosis. It is marketed as Ocrevus for intravenous infusion. Ocrelizumab is also the active anti-CD20 antibody component in Ocrevus Zunovo, a subcutaneous formulation that contains ocrelizumab with hyaluronidase. Pharmacologically, ocrelizumab is a CD20-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody. It is designed to target CD20-positive B lymphocytes, which are … Read more
