Derazantinib (ARQ 087) is an investigational, oral, multi-kinase inhibitor designed to preferentially inhibit the FGFR family of kinases with demonstrated activity in FGFR2 genetic alterations, including fusions. In human cancers, FGFRs have been found to be dysregulated by multiple mechanisms, including aberrant expression, mutations, chromosomal rearrangements, and amplifications. FGFR dysregulation has been identified as a driver in a number of cancers, including iCCA, cholangiocarcinoma, bladder, endometrial, breast, gastric, lung and ovarian. Current scientific literature suggests FGFR alterations exist in anywhere from 5% to 40% of these cancers. Derazantinib is a potent FGFR inhibitor that shows strong anti-proliferative activity in cell lines harboring FGFR2 alterations. In clinical testing, the molecule has demonstrated activity in cancerous tumors harboring FGFR2 fusions in iCCA and bladder cancers.

Antroquinonol is isolated from Antrodia camphorata, a camphor tree mushroom, and is a valuable traditional Chinese herbal medicine that exhibits pharmacological activities against several diseases, including cancer. Antroquinonol displayed anticancer activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines through activation of 5′ adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase and inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Antroquinonol also exhibits anticancer activity in human pancreatic cancers through inhibition of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR pathway, which in turn downregulates the expression of cell cycle regulators. The translational inhibition causes a G1 arrest of the cell cycle and ultimately mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. A study on the A549 pulmonary adenocarcinoma cell line demonstrated that antroquinonol-induced apoptosis was associated with disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspase-3 and poly ADP ribose polymerase cleavage. Moreover, antroquinonol treatment downregulated the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 proteins, which was correlated with decreased PI3K and mTOR protein levels, without altering the levels of pro- or antiapoptotic proteins. Antroquinonol is currently in phase II trials (USA and Taiwan) for the treatment of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), atopic dermatitis; colorectal cancer; hepatitis B; hyperlipidaemia; pancreatic cancer. Antroquinonol was also approved for drug clinical trials by the Russian Ministry of Health (MoH). The MoH gave permission to test the efficacy and safety of Phase II clinical trials in patients with acute myeloid leukemia in Russia. Antroquinonol received the Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA in treatment of pancreatic cancer, liver cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia.