Human health and medicine

Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Decoction

枳实薤白桂枝汤 (Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Decoction), a classic Chinese medicine formula from Zhang Zhongjing's Jin Gui Yao Lue for chest bi (胸痹). Five herbs: zhishi, xiebai, guizhi, houpo, gualou; actions unblock yang, dissipate binding, expel phlegm; modern use centers on angina.

Zhizi Baipi Tang

栀子柏皮汤 (Zhizi Baipi Decoction), a three-herb formula from Zhang Zhongjing's Shanghan Lun (gardenia, Phellodendron bark, fried licorice) that clears damp-heat and treats jaundice with fever, heat predominating over dampness.

Zhizi Dahuang Decoction

栀子大黄汤 (Zhizi Dahuang Decoction), a Zhang Zhongjing classical formula from the Jin Gui Yao Lue for alcoholic jaundice, combining gardenia, rhubarb, immature bitter orange, and fermented soybean; studied for hepatoprotective chemistry and effects.

Zhujing Wan

驻景丸 (Zhujing Wan, Preserve Vistas Pill) is a classic Chinese medicine ophthalmic formula of cuscuta, plantain seed, and rehmannia from the Song Taiping Shenghui Fang, for dim vision from liver-kidney deficiency, with modern trials in dry AMD, floaters, dry eye, and myopia.

Zhuling Decoction

猪苓汤 (Zhuling decoction, choreito), a five-herb classical Chinese medicine formula from the Shanghan Lun (zhuling, fuling, zexie, ejiao, huashi) that drains water, nourishes yin, and clears heat for water-heat binding with difficult urination; entry 9 of China's 2018 classic formula catalogue and an approved Japanese Kampo product.

Zhuru Tang

竹茹汤 (Zhuru Decoction), a Song-era classic formula from Xu Shuwei's Pujibenshifang (cited from Sun Zhao), made of kudzu, licorice, and pinellia with bamboo shavings, ginger, and jujube; clears stomach heat to stop vomiting, distinct from Jupi Zhuru Decoction.

Zibotentan

Zibotentan (ZD4054) is AstraZeneca's oral, highly selective endothelin A receptor antagonist; its ENTHUSE phase III prostate cancer trials failed, and it is now in phase 3 (ZENITH) with dapagliflozin for proteinuric chronic kidney disease.

Zicronapine

Zicronapine, development code LU 31-130, is an investigational antipsychotic drug candidate developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company H. Lundbeck for schizophrenia, reaching phase 3 trials before Lundbeck discontinued it in 2014 in favor of another compound.

Zidebactam

Zidebactam (WCK 5107) is an investigational intravenous antibiotic adjuvant developed by Wockhardt that binds Gram-negative PBP2 and inhibits β-lactamases; with cefepime it reached Phase 3 in the ENHANCE trial.

Zidovudine

Zidovudine (ZDV, AZT, Retrovir) is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and the first FDA-approved HIV drug (March 19, 1987); once the standard of care, oral ZDV is now no longer recommended for initial adult therapy due to serious adverse effects.

Zigakibart

Zigakibart (BION-1301, FUB523) is a Novartis humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody blocking APRIL, in phase 3 (BEYOND, NCT05852938) for IgA nephropathy, with phase 1/2 data showing 60% proteinuria reduction and eGFR stabilization.

Zilganersen

Zilganersen (Zanvastro, research code ION373) is an antisense oligonucleotide drug developed by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, approved by the FDA in 2026 as the first treatment for Alexander disease.

Ziltivekimab

Ziltivekimab (Novo Nordisk) is a fully human anti-IL-6 ligand monoclonal antibody for ASCVD, CKD, and inflammation; its phase 3 ZEUS trial missed the MACE endpoint in 2026 (HR 0.99).

Zilucoplan

Zilucoplan (Zilbrysq, RA101495) is a 15-amino-acid synthetic macrocyclic peptide C5 complement inhibitor, self-injected once daily, approved 2023-2024 for AChR antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis in Japan, the US, EU, and Canada.

Zimberelimab

Zimberelimab (AB122, GLS-010, WBP-3055; YuTuo) is a fully human IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved in China for PD-L1-positive recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer and relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma, and studied globally in combination immunotherapy trials.

Zimeldine

Zimeldine, also spelled zimelidine and sold as Zelmid, was the first marketed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, introduced in 1982 and withdrawn worldwide in 1983 for causing Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Zimmermann-Laband syndrome

Zimmermann-Laband syndrome (ZLS, OMIM 135500), also called Laband's syndrome, is a rare autosomal dominant disorder with gingival fibromatosis, nail and distal phalanx hypoplasia, hypertrichosis, and intellectual disability, caused by KCNH1, ATP6V1B2, or KCNN3 mutations.

Zinc deficiency

Zinc deficiency: insufficient body zinc causing growth retardation, diarrhea, dermatitis, and immune impairment. Discovered by Ananda Prasad in 1958 in Iran; phytate-rich diets are the main cause; about 17% of the world population affected.

Zinc deficiency syndromes

Zinc deficiency syndromes (ICD-11 5C64.21) are acquired or neonatal clinical zinc deficiency states, distinct from inherited acrodermatitis enteropathica (SLC39A4/ZIP4), diagnosed mainly by plasma zinc cutoffs and treated with supplementation.

Zinc excess

Zinc excess (zinc toxicity, hyperzincemia; ICD-11 5B91.1) is acquired zinc overload causing copper deficiency, anemia, neutropenia, and neuropathy; upper limits are 25 mg/day (EFSA) and 40 mg/day (US adults).

Zinc protoporphyrin

Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP, ZnPP) is an abnormal heme precursor formed when zinc replaces iron in protoporphyrin during heme synthesis; elevated in lead poisoning and iron deficiency, measured by hematofluorometry as ZPP/heme.

Zinc pyrithione

Zinc pyrithione (CAS 13463-41-7), a zinc pyrithione coordination compound, is an antifungal anti-dandruff shampoo active and cosmetic preservative; banned in EU cosmetics from March 2022 as a CMR 1B substance, still an OTC dandruff drug active in the US.

Zinc-responsive necrolytic acral erythema

Zinc-responsive necrolytic acral erythema is a rare skin condition causing red, scaly plaques on the extremities, linked to hepatitis C and often improved by oral zinc.

Zinpentraxin alfa

Zinpentraxin alfa (PRM-151, RO7490677), recombinant human pentraxin-2, an investigational intravenous antifibrotic; phase III STARSCAPE IPF trial stopped for futility with no benefit over placebo.

Zipeprol

Zipeprol (CAS 34758-83-3), a piperazine non-opioid antitussive sold as Respilene and Tusigen, was abused at high doses for hallucinogenic, opiate-like effects and placed in Schedule II of the 1971 Psychotropic Convention in 1995.

Ziprasidone

Ziprasidone (Geodon) is an atypical antipsychotic approved in 2001 for schizophrenia and 2004 for bipolar mania, with intramuscular use for agitation; notable for low weight gain but QTc prolongation and food-dependent absorption.

Zirconium Zr-89 girentuximab (Zircaix)

Zirconium Zr-89 girentuximab (Zircaix, TLX250-CDx, 89Zr-DFO-girentuximab) is a zirconium-89-labeled anti-CAIX antibody for PET/CT imaging of clear cell renal cell carcinoma; ZIRCON phase 3 showed 85.5% sensitivity and 87.0% specificity.

Ziresovir

Ziresovir (AK0529, formerly RO-0529) is an oral RSV F protein inhibitor by Shanghai Ark Biopharmaceutical; its phase 3 AIRFLO trial showed reduced bronchiolitis scores and viral load in hospitalized infants.

Ziritaxestat

Ziritaxestat (GLPG1690) is a Galapagos-developed small-molecule selective autotaxin inhibitor tested for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and systemic sclerosis; its phase 3 ISABELA trials failed and development was discontinued in 2021.