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In the present work, we report compilation and analysis of 245 drugs, including small and macromolecules approved by the U.S. FDA from 2015 until June 2020. Nearly 29% of the drugs were approved for the treatment of various types of cancers. Other major therapeutic areas of focus were infectious diseases (14%); neurological conditions (12%); and genetic, metabolic, and cardiovascular disorders (7−8% each). Itemization of the approved drugs according to the year of approval, sponsor, target, chemical class, major drug-metabolizing enzyme(s), route of administration/elimination, and drug−drug interaction liability (perpetrator or/and victim) is presented and discussed. An effort has been made to analyze the pharmacophores to identify the structural (e.g., aromatic, heterocycle, and aliphatic), elemental (e.g., boron, sulfur, fluorine, phosphorus, and deuterium), and functional group (e.g., nitro drugs) diversity among the approved drugs. Further, descriptor-based chemical space analysis of FDA approved drugs and several strategies utilized for optimizing metabolism leading to their discoveries have been emphasized. Finally, an analysis of drug-likeness for the approved drugs is presented.

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[reaction: see text] Catalyst-free conjugate addition of thiols to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in water is reported. beta-Sulfido carbonyl compounds were formed at room temperature, in short times and with excellent chemoselectivity. Competitive dithiane/dithiolane formation, transesterification, and ester cleavage were not observed. Water played a dual role in simultaneously activating the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound and the thiol. This new methodology constitutes an easy, highly efficient, and green synthesis of beta-sulfido carbonyl compounds.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are diverse group of compounds used for the treatment of inflammation, since the introduction of acetylsalicylic acid in 1899. Traditional (first generation) NSAIDs exert antiinflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects through the blockade of prostaglandin synthesis via non-selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) isozymes. Their use is associated with side effects such as gastrointestinal and renal toxicity. A number of selective (second generation) COX-2 inhibitors (rofecoxib, celecoxib, valdecoxib etc.) were developed as safer NSAIDs with improved gastric safety profile. Observation of increased cardiovascular risks in APPROVe (Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on Vioxx) study sent tremors and led to voluntary withdrawn of Vioxx (rofecoxib) by Merck from the market in September 2004 followed by Bextra (valdecoxib) in 2005 raising a question on the safety of selective COX-2 inhibitors. This leads to the belief that these effects are mechanism based and may be class effect. However, some studies suggested association of traditional NSAIDs with similar effects requiring a relook into the whole class of NSAIDs rather than simply victimizing the selective COX-2 inhibitors. Recognition of new avenues for selective COX-2 inhibitors such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, major depression, ischemic brain injury and diabetic peripheral nephropathy has kindled the interest in these compounds. This review highlights the various structural classes of selective COX-2 inhibitors developed during past seven years (2003-2009) with special emphasis on diaryl-hetero/carbo-cyclic class of compounds. Molecular modeling aspects are also briefly discussed.

Almost all drug molecules become the substrates for oxidoreductase enzymes, get metabolized into more hydrophilic products and eliminated from the body. These metabolites sometime may be more potent, active, inactive, or toxic in nature compared to parent molecule. Xanthine oxidoreductase and aldehyde oxidase belong to molybdenum containing family and are well characterized for their structures and functions, in particular to their ability to oxidize/hydroxylate the xenobiotics. Their upregulated clinical levels causing oxidative stress are associated with pathways either directly involved in the progression of diseases, gout, or indirectly with the succession of other diseases such as diabetes, cancer, etc. Herein, we have put forth a comprehensive review on the xanthine and aldehyde oxidases pertaining to their structures, functions, pathophysiological role, and a comparative analysis of structural insights of xanthine and aldehyde oxidases' binding domains with endogenous ligands or inhibitors. Though both the enzymes are molybdenum containing and are likely to share some common pathways and interact with inhibitors in a similar manner but we have focused on structural prerequisites for inhibitor specificity to both the enzymes keeping in view of the existing X-ray structures. This review also provides futuristic implications in the design of inhibitors derived from inorganic complexes or small organic molecules considering the spatial features and structural insights of both the enzymes.

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The 2-(2-arylphenyl)benzoxazole moiety has been found to be a new and selective ligand for the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The 2-(2-arylphenyl)benzoxazoles 3a−m have been synthesized by Suzuki reaction of 2-(2-bromophenyl)benzoxazole. Further synthetic manipulation of 3f and 3i led to 3o and 3n, respectively. The compounds 3g, 3n, and 3o selectively inhibited COX-2 with selectivity index of 3n much better than that of the COX-2 selective NSAID celecoxib. The in vivo anti-inflammatory potency of 3g and 3n is comparable to that of celecoxib and the nonselective NSAID diclofenac at two different doses, and 3o showed better potency compared to these clinically used NSAIDs. KEYWORDS: 2-(2-Arylphenyl)benzoxazoles, novel anti-inflammatory scaffold, 3D QSAR, cyclooxygenase-2 selective, in vivo potency I nflammation is the natural defense mechanism of the body to deal with infection and tissue damage. However, uncontrolled inflammatory cascades is responsible for various diseases such as chronic asthma, rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowl diseases and psoriasis, 1 diabetic nephropathy, 2 tumor initiation, and malignant progression.3 Pain is the most prevalent inflammatory symptom needing medical attention with an estimated amount of 105 million of affected people in the US amounting to the financial burden of US$ 100 billion per annum to the health care expenditure. 4 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are the sever forms of inflammatory pain with a decade span of the disease shortening the life expectancy. 5,6 The major complication of RA is its association with acceleration of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). 7 The nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used worldwide for therapeutic intervention of pain and inflammation. These exert their anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes. 8 The side effects such as gastric ulcer and gastrointestinal bleeding associated with the traditional NSAIDs (nonselective inhibitors of COX-1 and COX-2) led to the development of selective COX-2 inhibitors as a new class of NSAIDs generally recognized as coxibs. 9 The recent withdrawal of COX-2 selective inhibitors rofecoxib and valdecoxib due to adverse cardiovascular side effects 10 fuelled a debate about the increased cardiovascular risk associated with existing COX-2 inhibitors 11 pressing the need for novel anti-inflammatory scaffold. The additional findings on therapeutic benefit of