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Medicines and therapeutics

4,601 articles

Fomivirsen

Fomivirsen (Vitravene), the first FDA-approved antisense drug (1998), a 21-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotide targeting CMV IE2 mRNA, given intravitreally for CMV retinitis in AIDS; withdrawn in Europe 2002 and the US 2006.

Fonadelpar

Fonadelpar (NPS-005, SJP-0035) is an investigational Senju Pharmaceutical small-molecule PPARδ agonist, phase 3 as 0.001% eye drops for dry eye disease (DELTA-1, NCT03527212); not approved, also trialed in conduct disorder.

Food effect study

A food effect study is a clinical pharmacology study measuring how food changes an oral drug's absorption and exposure, comparing fed and fasted dosing to support labeling.

Forigerimod

Forigerimod (P140, Lupuzor, IPP-201101) is a 21-mer phosphopeptide from U1-70K snRNP that binds HSC70/HSPA8 to treat lupus; Phase IIb positive, Phase III missed its endpoint, CIDP in development.

Forodesine

Forodesine (BCX-1777, Immucillin H, Mundesine) is a transition-state analogue inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase for T-cell malignancies; approved in Japan 2017 for relapsed/refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not elsewhere.

Fosamprenavir

Fosamprenavir (Lexiva, Telzir) is a prodrug of the HIV protease inhibitor amprenavir, approved by the FDA in 2003 and EMA in 2004; EU marketing was withdrawn in November 2025 and U.S. use is no longer common.

Fosaprepitant

Fosaprepitant (Ivemend, Emend for Injection) is an intravenous prodrug of the NK1 receptor antagonist aprepitant, converted within 30 minutes, used with a 5-HT3 antagonist and dexamethasone to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in adults and children 6 months and older.

Fosbretabulin

Fosbretabulin (CA4P, ZYBRESTAT, combretastatin A4 phosphate) is an investigational vascular disrupting agent, a tubulin-binding prodrug from Combretum caffrum that collapses tumor blood vessels; trialed in thyroid, lung, and ovarian cancer without proven survival benefit.

Foscarnet

Foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate), sold as Foscavir, is an intravenous antiviral that blocks viral DNA polymerase and is used for CMV retinitis and resistant herpes infections.

Fosdenopterin

Fosdenopterin (Nulibry), synthetic cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate, is the first approved therapy for molybdenum cofactor deficiency type A, given as daily IV infusion; FDA approved February 2021, EMA September 2022, MHRA April 2024.

Fosfomycin

Fosfomycin (fosfomycin tromethamine, Monurol; IV form CONTEPO) is a phosphonate epoxide antibiotic inhibiting MurA cell wall synthesis, used as a single 3-g oral dose for uncomplicated UTI and intravenously for complicated UTI.

Fosgemcitabine palabenamide

Fosgemcitabine palabenamide (NUC-1031, Acelarin) is an investigational ProTide prodrug of gemcitabine for cancer, designed to bypass hENT1 transport, dCK activation, and CDA breakdown; its phase III biliary tract trial missed its survival endpoint.

Fosinopril

Fosinopril (Monopril) is an ACE inhibitor prodrug converted to fosinoprilat, approved in 1991 for hypertension and adjunctive heart failure therapy; dosed 10-40 mg once daily, dual liver-kidney elimination, boxed fetal toxicity warning.

Foslevodopa

Foslevodopa (levodopa-4'-monophosphate, ABBV-951 with foscarbidopa; Vyalev, Produodopa) is a phosphate prodrug of levodopa given by continuous subcutaneous infusion for motor fluctuations in advanced Parkinson's disease.

Fosmetpantotenate

Fosmetpantotenate (RE-024) is a discontinued Retrophin phosphopantothenate prodrug for pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN); safe in the phase 3 FORT trial but failed to improve PKAN-ADL function.

Fosmidomycin

Fosmidomycin (FR-31564), a Streptomyces phosphonate antibiotic, inhibits DXR in the MEP isoprenoid pathway; an antimalarial drug lead with poor permeability, 3.5 h half-life, and no drug approval.

Fosnetupitant

Fosnetupitant (Akynzeo IV, with palonosetron) is a water-soluble phosphorylated prodrug of the NK1 receptor antagonist netupitant, given as a 235 mg intravenous infusion to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; FDA approved 2018, noninferior to fosaprepitant with fewer injection-site reactions.

Fosphenytoin

Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx) is a water-soluble phosphate ester prodrug of phenytoin, dosed in phenytoin sodium equivalents, FDA-approved in 1996 for status epilepticus and neurosurgical seizures.

Fospropofol

Fospropofol, sold as Lusedra and formerly Aquavan, is a water-soluble prodrug of the anesthetic propofol used for sedation in adults during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Fosrolapitant and palonosetron for injection

Fosrolapitant/palonosetron for injection (Ritanine, HR20013, 注射用磷罗拉匹坦帕洛诺司琼) is Hengrui's fixed-dose IV NK-1 plus 5-HT3 antiemetic, NMPA-approved May 27, 2025 for HEC-induced CINV, with a 188-hour rolapitant half-life allowing one dose per cycle.

Fostamatinib

Fostamatinib (Tavalisse, Tavlesse) is an oral SYK inhibitor approved in 2018 (US) and 2020 (EU) for chronic immune thrombocytopenia in adults after prior treatment failure; stable response 18% vs 2% placebo in phase 3 FIT trials.

Fostemsavir

Fostemsavir (Rukobia, BMS-663068) is a prodrug of temsavir, the first gp120-directed HIV-1 attachment inhibitor, FDA-approved in 2020 for multidrug-resistant HIV-1 in heavily treatment-experienced adults; 600 mg twice daily.

Fosun Yaopharma oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist (licensed to Pfizer)

YP05002, Fosun Yaopharma's oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, is an experimental once-daily pill for weight management developed by YaoPharma, a Fosun Pharma subsidiary, and licensed exclusively to Pfizer in December 2025.

Fotagliptin benzoate (SAL067)

Fotagliptin benzoate (SAL067, FCN-005; trade name Xinliting, 信立汀) is a Chinese Category 1 DPP-4 inhibitor approved by NMPA in June 2024 for adult type 2 diabetes, dosed 12 mg once daily alone or with metformin, with compound patent to 2030.

Fotemustine

Fotemustine (Muphoran, S 10036) is a chloroethylating nitrosourea alkylating agent that crosses the blood-brain barrier; used in Europe for disseminated melanoma with brain metastases, recurrent glioblastoma, and primary CNS lymphoma, but not US-approved.

Fovinaciclib citrate capsules

Fovinaciclib citrate capsules (枸橼酸伏维西利胶囊, Futuoning) are a Chinese class 1 oral CDK4/6 inhibitor by Jinzhou Ahon/Fosun, NMPA-approved May 2025 with fulvestrant or aromatase inhibitors for HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer.

Fragment screening

Fragment screening is a drug discovery method that tests very small molecules for weak binding to target proteins, which are then grown into drug leads.

Frances Oldham Kelsey

Frances Oldham Kelsey (1914–2015), Canadian-born pharmacologist and FDA medical officer, refused U.S. approval of thalidomide (Kevadon) in 1960 despite sponsor pressure, averting thousands of birth defects; honored with the 1962 President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service.

Fremanezumab

Fremanezumab (Ajovy, Teva) is a humanized anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody for migraine prevention; FDA-approved 2018 for adults, 2025 for children 6–17, dosed 225 mg monthly or 675 mg quarterly.

Freneslerbart

Freneslerbart (freneslerbart/mevonlerbart, REGN1908-1909) is Regeneron's 1:1 cocktail of two fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibodies against the cat allergen Fel d 1, studied as single-dose passive immunotherapy for cat-allergic rhinitis and asthma.