SOR-C13, is a novel, short, synthetic peptide developed from the C-terminal region of soricidin, a proprietary 54 amino acid peptide, discovered by Soricimed Biopharma found in the saliva of the Northern Short-tailed Shrew. SOR-C13 binds with high affinity and selectivity - and disrupts the function of - TRPV6, a calcium channel over-expressed in solid tumor cancers. TRPV6 plays a central role in a biochemical cascade that results in the upregulation of an array of pro-cancerous genes. TRPV6 is considered to be an important target for novel anticancer therapy. SOR-C13 is the first highly specific TRPV6 inhibitor to be identified and to be taken into clinical development. SOR-C13 was effective in inhibition of tumors in animal xenograft models of human ovarian and breast cancer. The ongoing phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of SOR-C13 in treating patients with solid tumors. The FDA has awarded orphan drug status to SOR-C13 for the treatment of ovarian cancer and for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Ranirestat (AS-3201, SX-3030, SX-3202) is an oral aldose reductase inhibitor. (-)-enantiomer (AS-3201) is 10 times more potent in inhibition of the aldose reductase and 500 times more potent in the in vivo activity than the corresponding (+)-enantiomer (SX-3202). Ranirestat is being developed by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma (formerly Dainippon Pharmaceutical) for the treatment of diabetic complications, primarily diabetic neuropathy. Ranirestat is a well-tolerated front-line inhibitor. It reproducibly exhibits some degree of measurable objective beneficial outcomes in diabetic neuropathy.

Ponalrestat is the inhibitor of aldehyde reductase 2 from a number of sources. Ponalrestat blunted Prostaglandin F2 alpha synthesis by preadipocytes in basal and stimulated conditions. Ponalrestat suppresses IL-1 production both in vitro and in vivo, and inhibits the cachectic symptoms induced by colon26 adenocarcinoma in mice, suggesting that ponalrestat has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of cancer cachexia. In a 4-week study of 29 neuropathic diabetics treated with ponalrestat peripheral neuropathy did not improve during treatment. In a 6-week study of 21 diabetics without neuropathy, although vagal function improved in patients with autonomic neuropathy.