FDA-approved γ-lactam-containing drugs (2011-2025): Synthesis and clinical applications

γ-Lactams are privileged heterocyclic scaffolds that frequently occur in biologically active molecules and pharmaceutical agents. Over the past fifteen years, research on γ-lactams has experienced significant growth, which is clearly reflected in the increasing number of FDA-approved drug molecules containing γ-lactam motifs. Eight γ-lactam-containing small-molecule drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 2011 and 2025, including one pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, whereas such approvals were rarely reported prior to 2011. In this mini-review, we provide a concise overview of FDA-approved γ-lactam-containing drugs from 2011 to 2025, with particular emphasis on their structural features, original synthetic strategies, and clinical applications. Current challenges and future perspectives for the development of γ-lactam-based drugs are also briefly discussed.