Cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine drugs

Levobetaxolol

Levobetaxolol is the active S-isomer of the beta blocker betaxolol, given as eye drops to lower intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension; it debuted in the early 1980s.

Levoketoconazole (Recorlev) is the 2S,4R enantiomer of ketoconazole, an oral cortisol synthesis inhibitor approved by FDA on December 30, 2021 for endogenous hypercortisolemia in adults with Cushing's syndrome, with boxed warnings for hepatotoxicity and QT prolongation.

Levothyroxine

Levothyroxine (synthetic T4, L-thyroxine) is the first-line drug for hypothyroidism and a top-ten prescribed medicine worldwide; a narrow-therapeutic-index prodrug converted to T3, taken fasting, dosed ~1.6 mcg/kg/day by TSH.

Lifibrol

Lifibrol (K 12.148, CAS 96609-16-4), an investigational phenoxy-acid lipid-lowering drug for hypercholesterolemia that lowers LDL cholesterol over 40% by enhancing LDL-receptor activity through a mechanism distinct from statins and fibrates; reached Phase 3 but was never marketed.

Lifitegrast

Lifitegrast (Xiidra) is a preservative-free 5% LFA-1 antagonist eye drop approved by the FDA in July 2016 for dry eye disease signs and symptoms; common effects are instillation site irritation and dysgeusia.

Limaprost

Limaprost (Opalmon, Prorenal) is an oral prostaglandin E1 analogue developed by Ono and Dainippon Sumitomo in Japan, approved 1988 for thromboangiitis obliterans and 2001 for lumbar spinal stenosis, dosed 15-30 micrograms daily.

Linagliptin

Linagliptin (Trajenta, Tradjenta) is a DPP-4 inhibitor for type 2 diabetes, 5 mg once daily, eliminated mainly in faeces via bile, needing no dose adjustment in renal or hepatic impairment; CARMELINA and CAROLINA showed cardiovascular noninferiority.

Linzagolix

Linzagolix, marketed in Europe as Yselty, is an oral GnRH receptor antagonist, authorized in 2022 to treat uterine fibroids and endometriosis by lowering estrogen and progesterone.

Liothyronine

Liothyronine (L-T3, Cytomel) is the synthetic sodium salt of triiodothyronine, the active thyroid hormone, approved in 1956 for hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer TSH suppression, and suppression testing.

Liraglutide

Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) is a once-daily injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist by Novo Nordisk for type 2 diabetes (up to 1.8 mg) and obesity (3.0 mg), with LEADER cardiovascular benefit, thyroid C-cell tumor boxed warning, and first generics approved in 2025.

Lisinopril

Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) is a nonsulfhydryl ACE inhibitor for hypertension, heart failure, and post-heart-attack survival. Once-daily dosing, ~25% bioavailability, renal excretion, contraindicated in pregnancy.

Lixisenatide

Lixisenatide (Lyxumia, Adlyxin; AVE0010) is a short-acting once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist by Sanofi for type 2 diabetes, also fixed-ratio combined with insulin glargine as Soliqua 100/33; ELIXA showed neutral cardiovascular outcomes.

Lobeglitazone

Lobeglitazone (CKD-501, Duvie) is a thiazolidinedione PPAR-gamma agonist for type 2 diabetes, developed by Chong Kun Dang, approved in Korea 2013 and India, dosed 0.5 mg daily, with 12-fold higher PPARγ affinity than pioglitazone.

Lomitapide

Lomitapide (Juxtapid, Lojuxta) is an oral microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor approved in 2012 as adjunct LDL-C-lowering therapy for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; LDLR-independent, with GI and hepatic steatosis risks.

Loop diuretic

Loop diuretics (furosemide, bumetanide, torsemide, ethacrynic acid) inhibit the NKCC2 cotransporter in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle, producing powerful natriuresis for fluid overload in heart, kidney, and liver disease.

Lorundrostat

Lorundrostat, also known by its development codes MLS-101 and MT-4129, is an investigational aldosterone synthase inhibitor developed by Mineralys Therapeutics for uncontrolled and treatment-resistant hypertension, with an FDA application submitted in December 2025.

Losartan

Losartan (Cozaar, DuP 753) is the first angiotensin II receptor blocker, an orally active AT1-selective antihypertensive approved by the FDA in 1995, with active metabolite E3174, indicated for hypertension, LVH stroke risk, and diabetic nephropathy.

Lovastatin

Lovastatin (Mevacor, mevinolin, monacolin K) is a fungal-derived HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor from Aspergillus terreus, the first FDA-approved statin (September 1987), lowering LDL cholesterol about 40% at 80 mg daily.

Lucerastat

Lucerastat (ACT-434964, N-butyldeoxygalactonojirimycin) is Idorsia's oral glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, a substrate reduction therapy for Fabry disease; its Phase 3 MODIFY trial missed the neuropathic pain endpoint but lowered Gb3 biomarkers, and it is not yet approved.

Lugol's iodine

Lugol's iodine, also called Lugol's solution, is an aqueous solution of iodine and potassium iodide developed in 1829 by Jean Lugol, used to lower thyroid hormone levels in Graves' disease.

Lumacaftor

Lumacaftor (VX-809), a CFTR corrector combined with ivacaftor as Orkambi, treats cystic fibrosis in F508del-homozygous patients; approved 2015, modest FEV1 gains, superseded by triple therapy.

Lusutrombopag

Lusutrombopag (Mulpleta, Mulpleo), an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist approved in 2018, raises platelet counts in adults with chronic liver disease before invasive procedures; 3 mg daily for 7 days, main risk thrombosis.

Macimorelin

Macimorelin (AEZS-130, Macrilen, Ghryvelin) is an oral ghrelin-mimetic tripeptide, GHSR agonist, FDA-approved in 2017 to diagnose adult growth hormone deficiency via a 0.5 mg/kg GH stimulation test.

Macitentan

Macitentan, sold as Opsumit, is an oral endothelin receptor antagonist developed by Actelion and approved in the United States in 2013 to reduce the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension worsening.