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Medicines and therapeutics

4,601 articles

Lefamulin

Lefamulin (Xenleta, formerly BC-3781) is a first-in-class semisynthetic pleuromutilin antibiotic, approved IV and oral for adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, noninferior to moxifloxacin in the LEAP 1 and LEAP 2 phase 3 trials.

Lemzoparlimab

Lemzoparlimab (TJC4, TJ011133) is a fully human IgG4 anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody from I-Mab Biopharma that binds a distinct glycosylation-shielded epitope to spare red blood cells; development was halted outside China in 2022 and its phase III MDS trial discontinued in 2025.

Lenabasum

Lenabasum (ajulemic acid, JBT-101, anabasum, Resunab) is a synthetic oral CB2 receptor agonist, nonpsychoactive, developed by Corbus for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; Phase 2 trials in systemic sclerosis and dermatomyositis were positive, but Phase 3 dermatomyositis and CF programs failed, and it is unapproved.

Lenalidomide

Lenalidomide (Revlimid), an oral thalidomide-analogue IMiD, treats multiple myeloma, del(5q) MDS, and lymphomas by binding cereblon to degrade IKZF1/IKZF3; US approval 2005, REMS-restricted, with resistance via CRBN lesions.

Lenalidomide/low-dose dexamethasone regimen

The lenalidomide/low-dose dexamethasone regimen (Rd) is an oral, chemotherapy-free doublet for multiple myeloma, pairing lenalidomide with once-weekly dexamethasone, established as standard first-line therapy by the FIRST trial.

Lenercept

Lenercept (Ro 45-2081, Tenefuse) was a Roche recombinant p55 TNF receptor-IgG1 Fc fusion protein tested in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and sepsis; development was discontinued after transient RA efficacy and a failed MS trial.

Leniolisib

Leniolisib (Joenja, CDZ173) is an oral PI3Kδ inhibitor, FDA-approved March 2023 as the first treatment for activated PI3K delta syndrome (APDS), dosed 70 mg twice daily, with high δ selectivity and lower potency than oncology PI3K inhibitors.

Lenograstim

Lenograstim (Granocyte, Neutrogin) is a glycosylated recombinant human G-CSF made in CHO cells, approved in Europe in 1993, used for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, transplantation support, and progenitor cell mobilization; not FDA-approved.

Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab

Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab is a combination cancer therapy pairing the oral kinase inhibitor lenvatinib with the anti–PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab, FDA-approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma and endometrial carcinoma.

Lenvatinib regimen

A lenvatinib regimen is an oral cancer treatment built around lenvatinib, a once-daily tyrosine kinase inhibitor given alone or with pembrolizumab, everolimus, or belzutifan for thyroid, liver, kidney, and endometrial cancers.

Lenzilumab

Lenzilumab (KB003) is a humanized IgG1κ monoclonal antibody neutralizing GM-CSF, trialed in rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, CMML, CAR-T CRS, and COVID-19 (LIVE-AIR phase 3); EUA rejected, not approved.

Lepirudin

Lepirudin (Refludan, Refluden) is a yeast-derived recombinant hirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II; approved 1997-1998, withdrawn in the EU in 2012 and the US in 2016.

Lercanidipine

Lercanidipine (Zanidip) is a lipophilic third-generation dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker for mild to moderate hypertension, dosed 10–20 mg once daily; approved in Europe and many countries but never FDA approved in the United States.

Lerdelimumab

Lerdelimumab (CAT-152, Trabio) is a human IgG4 monoclonal antibody neutralizing TGF-β2, developed by Cambridge Antibody Technology and Genzyme to prevent scarring after trabeculectomy; phase III trials showed no benefit over placebo and development was discontinued.

Leriglitazone

Leriglitazone (MIN-102), marketed as Nezglyal, is a brain-penetrant selective PPARγ agonist and pioglitazone metabolite by Minoryx; EU-approved in 2026 as the first drug for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy in boys aged 2-12.

Lerisetron

Lerisetron (F-0930-RS2) is a 2-piperazinylbenzimidazole 5-HT3 receptor antagonist antiemetic developed by FAES Farma for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; it reached phase III trials but was never marketed.

Lerodalcibep

Lerodalcibep (Lerochol, lerodalcibep-liga; EU name Lyrokaul) is a third-generation PCSK9 inhibitor fusion protein (adnectin plus albumin) by LIB Therapeutics, dosed 300 mg subcutaneously monthly, FDA-approved 2025 for hypercholesterolemia including HeFH.

Leronlimab

Leronlimab (PRO 140, Vyrologix) is a humanized IgG4 anti-CCR5 monoclonal antibody, formerly Progenics' and now CytoDyn's investigational HIV entry blocker; unapproved, with failed COVID-19 trials and ongoing cancer studies.

Lesinurad

Lesinurad (Zurampic, RDEA594) is an oral URAT1 and OAT4 inhibitor uricosuric for gout hyperuricemia, approved in the US in 2015 and EU in 2016, used only with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, and withdrawn from the EU in 2020 for commercial reasons.

Lestaurtinib

Lestaurtinib (formerly CEP-701) is an oral, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the indolocarbazole class that inhibits FLT3, JAK2, and TRKA, developed as a treatment for FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia.

Letermovir

Letermovir (Prevymis, AIC246, MK-8228) is a CMV DNA terminase complex inhibitor, targeting pUL56, used as prophylaxis in CMV-seropositive allogeneic HSCT recipients and high-risk kidney transplant recipients; approved in the EU in 2018 and the US in 2017.

Letrozole

Letrozole (Femara, CGS 20267) is a nonsteroidal third-generation aromatase inhibitor approved in 1997 for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women, dosed 2.5 mg daily, also used off-label for ovulation induction.

Leuprorelin

Leuprorelin is a synthetic GnRH analog that suppresses sex hormones. Approved by the FDA in 1985, it is used to treat prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and precocious puberty.

Levacetylleucine

Levacetylleucine, also known as N-acetyl-L-leucine and marketed as Aqneursa, is an oral drug approved in 2024 for neurological symptoms of Niemann-Pick disease type C and in 2026 for ataxia in ataxia-telangiectasia.

Levallorphan

Levallorphan (Lorfan) is a discontinued morphinan opioid antagonist with partial kappa-agonist activity, used to reverse opioid respiratory depression; unlike naloxone it depresses respiration and was superseded by it.

Levamfetamine

Levamfetamine (levoamphetamine, L-amphetamine) is the (R)-enantiomer of amphetamine, C9H13N, CAS 156-34-3. Weaker CNS stimulant than dextroamphetamine but stronger peripherally; US anorectic products withdrawn in 1973; distinct from levmetamfetamine.

Levamlodipine

Levamlodipine, also called (S)-amlodipine or levoamlodipine (brand Conjupri), is the active S-enantiomer of the racemic calcium channel blocker amlodipine, FDA-approved December 19, 2019 for hypertension; 5 mg is bioequivalent to 10 mg racemic amlodipine.

Levetiracetam

Levetiracetam (Keppra) is an SV2A-binding antiseizure medication approved by the FDA in 1999 and in the EU in 2000, used as first-line monotherapy or add-on for focal and generalized seizures, with somnolence and headache as common side effects.

Levilimab

Levilimab (BCD-089, Ilsira) is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor from Biocad, Russia; approved there in 2020 for severe COVID-19 cytokine release syndrome and studied in rheumatoid arthritis; ATC L04AC25; no US/EU approval.

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.