Metabolic and endocrine drugs

Orforglipron

Orforglipron (Foundayo) is Eli Lilly's once-daily oral, non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist, discovered by Chugai and FDA-approved April 1, 2026 for weight management; doses up to 17.2 mg, no food or water restrictions, half-life 29-49 hours.

ORIGIN trial

ORIGIN trial (Outcome Reduction with an Initial Glargine Intervention), NCT00069784: 2x2 factorial RCT in 12,537 dysglycemic adults at high cardiovascular risk; insulin glargine and 1 g/day omega-3 both neutral for cardiovascular outcomes, cancer, and mortality over 6.2 years.

Orlistat

Orlistat (Xenical, alli; tetrahydrolipstatin) is a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor weight-loss drug blocking about 30% of dietary fat absorption; 120 mg prescription and 60 mg OTC, with GI side effects and 2026 FDA kidney-injury warnings.

Ormeloxifene (centchroman)

Ormeloxifene (centchroman), sold in India as Saheli and Chhaya, is a non-steroidal SERM and once-weekly oral contraceptive developed by CSIR-CDRI, also used for abnormal uterine bleeding and mastalgia.

Orteronel

Orteronel (TAK-700, S-TAK-700) is Takeda's oral nonsteroidal selective CYP17A1 17,20-lyase inhibitor for prostate cancer; Phase III ELM-PC 4/5 and SWOG-1216 failed overall survival endpoints and development ended in 2014.

Osilodrostat

Osilodrostat (Isturisa, LCI699) is an oral cortisol synthesis inhibitor blocking CYP11B1 (and CYP11B2), FDA-approved in 2020 and expanded in 2025 for endogenous hypercortisolemia in adult Cushing's syndrome; dosing starts at 2 mg twice daily up to 30 mg twice daily.

Otenabant

Otenabant (CP-945,598), Pfizer's selective CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist (Ki 0.7 nM), was trialed for obesity and NASH but its clinical program was terminated in 2008 after rimonabant's psychiatric safety withdrawal.

Paltusotine

Paltusotine, sold as Palsonify, is a nonpeptide, orally given selective agonist of the somatostatin receptor subtype 2, approved in the United States in September 2025 to treat acromegaly in adults.

Paricalcitol

Paricalcitol (Zemplar) is a synthetic 19-nor vitamin D2 analog of calcitriol that binds the vitamin D receptor to suppress PTH, FDA-approved since 1998 for secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD stages 3-5, adults and children 10+.

Pasireotide

Pasireotide (SOM230, Signifor) is a cyclic hexapeptide somatostatin analogue approved in 2012 for Cushing's disease, binding SSTR5 strongly; its main drawback is hyperglycemia from suppressed insulin and incretin secretion.

Pegadricase

Pegadricase (SEL-037, pegsiticase) is a PEGylated Candida utilis uricase for refractory gout, paired with rapamycin nanoparticle ImmTOR as SEL-212; monthly dosing matched pegloticase in the COMPARE phase 2 trial.

Pegloticase

Pegloticase, marketed as Krystexxa, is a PEGylated uricase enzyme given by intravenous infusion every two weeks to lower urate in adults with gout refractory to oral therapy.

Pegozafermin

Pegozafermin (BIO89-100), a glycoPEGylated FGF21 analog by 89bio, now Roche, treats MASH and severe hypertriglyceridemia; ENLIVEN phase 2b showed fibrosis improvement and NASH resolution.

Pegvisomant

Pegvisomant (Somavert) is a PEGylated growth hormone receptor antagonist approved in 2003 for acromegaly uncontrolled by surgery or radiation; daily subcutaneous injection normalizing IGF-1, with real-world control around 62–71%.

Pelacarsen

Pelacarsen (TQJ230, AKCEA-APO(a)-LRx) is a GalNAc-conjugated antisense oligonucleotide by Ionis and Novartis that lowers lipoprotein(a); its phase 3 Lp(a)HORIZON trial missed its MACE endpoint in September 2026.

Pemafibrate

Pemafibrate (K-877, Parmodia) is a Kowa-developed selective PPARα modulator fibrate approved in Japan for hyperlipidemia; its PROMINENT trial lowered triglycerides ~26% but did not reduce cardiovascular events.

Pioglitazone

Pioglitazone (Actos) is a thiazolidinedione PPAR-gamma agonist approved in 1999 for type 2 diabetes, also used for NASH and stroke prevention after IRIS; boxed warning for heart failure, weight gain, fracture and bladder cancer signals.

Pitavastatin

Pitavastatin (Livalo) is a synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor statin launched in Japan in 2003 and FDA-approved in 2009; 1–4 mg daily doses lower LDL-C 28–47% with low CYP interaction risk.

Polidexide sulfate

Polidexide sulfate (INN; also polydexide sulfate, brand Secholex) is a crosslinked dextran anion-exchange resin and bile acid sequestrant formerly used for hypercholesterolaemia in the UK, withdrawn in the mid-1970s over impurity-related safety concerns.

Polyestradiol phosphate

Polyestradiol phosphate (PEP, Estradurin, LEO 114) is a long-acting injectable polymeric estradiol ester used for palliative androgen suppression in prostatic carcinoma, with dose-dependent testosterone suppression and mixed cardiovascular findings.

Polyethylene glycol loxenatide

Polyethylene glycol loxenatide (PEG-loxenatide, PEX168, brand Fulaimei 孚来美) is a once-weekly PEGylated GLP-1 receptor agonist derived from exenatide, developed by Hansoh and NMPA-approved in 2019 for type 2 diabetes in China.

Pradigastat

Pradigastat (LCQ-908, ANJ908) is Novartis's oral DGAT1 inhibitor that cut fasting triglycerides up to 70% in familial chylomicronemia but was abandoned in 2017 over gastrointestinal side effects; later repurposed for constipation.

Prasterone

Prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA) is an endogenous steroid given as a 6.5 mg once-daily vaginal insert (Intrarosa) for moderate to severe dyspareunia from menopausal vulvovaginal atrophy; FDA approved 2016, distinct from oral DHEA products.

Pravastatin

Pravastatin (pravastatin sodium, formerly Pravachol) is a semi-synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor statin, U.S.-approved 1991, dosed 40-80 mg daily; low-to-moderate LDL-lowering potency, landmark trials WOSCOPS, CARE, LIPID, PROSPER.

Presendin (sustained-release exenatide)

Presendin is Invex Therapeutics' sustained-release exenatide (PLGA microsphere, once-weekly injection) for idiopathic intracranial hypertension; its Phase III IIH EVOLVE trial (NCT05347147) closed in August 2023 for commercial reasons after 14 enrollments.

Oct 15, 2026

Probucol

Probucol is a synthetic lipid-lowering and antioxidant drug that lowers LDL cholesterol but also lowers HDL; withdrawn in the United States in 1995, it remains in use in Japan.

Sep 29, 2026

Progestin therapy

Progestin therapy is medical treatment with progesterone receptor agonists such as medroxyprogesterone acetate, norethindrone, and levonorgestrel, used for contraception, bleeding control, endometrial protection, and endometrial hyperplasia.

Promestriene

Promestriene (Colpotrophine) is a minimally absorbed estradiol diether used as a low-dose vaginal estrogen for atrophy and genitourinary syndrome of menopause; sold in Europe and Latin America, not approved in the US.