Momelotinib (CYT387) is an ATP-competitive small molecule that potently inhibits JAK1/JAK2 kinases. Momelotinib is developing by Gilead Sciences for the oral treatment of pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancers, and myeloproliferative disorders (including myelofibrosis, essential thrombocythaemia and polycythaemia vera).

Pacritinib (SB1518), discovered in Singapore at the labs of S*BIO Pte Ltd., is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with activity against two important activating mutations: Janus Associated Kinase 2 (JAK2) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3). The JAK family of enzymes is a central component in signal transduction pathways, which are critical to normal blood cell growth and development as well as inflammatory cytokine expression and immune responses. Activating mutations of JAK2 are implicated in certain blood-related cancers, including myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), leukemia and certain solid tumors. FLT3 is a gene commonly found mutated in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Pacritinib has demonstrated encouraging results in Phase 1 and 2 studies for patients with myelofibrosis and may offer an advantage over other JAK inhibitors through effective treatment of symptoms while having less treatment-emergent thrombocytopenia and anemia than has been seen in currently approved and in-development JAK inhibitors. Pacritinib is acquired by Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) and Baxter international and could effectively address an unmet medical need for patients living with myelofibrosis who face treatment-emergent thrombocytopenia on marketed JAK inhibitors. Currently Pacritinib is undergoing preregistration for myelofibrosis.

Estetrol is the natural human fetal selective estrogen receptor modulator. It is synthesized exclusively by the human fetal liver during pregnancy. Estetrol has a moderate affinity for human estrogen A receptor (ERa) and estrogen B receptor (ERb). Estetrol may be suitable as a potential drug for human use in applications such as hormone replacement therapy (vaginal atrophy, hot flushes), contraception and osteoporosis. The most common drug-related adverse events were lower abdominal pain, nausea, headache, dysmenorrhoea, breast enlargement and acne. Estetrol had been in clinical trials for the treatment of breast and prostate cancers.

KD025 is an orally available, selective small molecule inhibitor of ROCK2 (Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 2), a molecular target in multiple autoimmune, fibrotic and neurodegenerative diseases. KD025 is the only ROCK2-specific inhibitor in the clinical trials. KD025 down-regulates the IL-17 and IL-21 secretion in human PBMCs, and leads to down-regulation of STAT3 phosphorylation, IRF4, and RORγt expression in CD4+ T cells. Kadmon Pharmaceuticals initiated phase II clinical trials of KD025 for the treatment of Graft-versus-host disease; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Plaque psoriasis.

Fexinidazole is an antiparasitic drug, which is in the phase III of clinical trial for the treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis, and in the phase II for the treatment Disease, Chagas and Visceral Leishmaniosis. However, for the Visceral Leishmaniosis, studies were terminated, due to lack of efficacy. Fexinidazole rapidly metabolized to two active metabolites, a sulfone and a sulfoxide, which prolong the pharmacological action of parent drug. These metabolites retaine trypanocidal activity but are less effective in nifurtimox-resistant lines, which can lead to the potential danger in the use of fexinidazole as a monotherapy.

Capmatinib (INC280, INCB028060), is an orally bioavailable inhibitor of the proto-oncogene c-Met (hepatocyte growth factor receptor [HGFR]) with potential antineoplastic activity. Novartis acquired Incyte's capmatinib, which is in Phase II clinical trial as monotherapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Capmatinib selectively binds to c-Met, thereby inhibiting c-Met phosphorylation and disrupting c-Met signal transduction pathways. This may induce cell death in tumor cells overexpressing c-Met protein or expressing constitutively activated c-Met protein. c-Met, a receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed or mutated in many tumor cell types, plays key roles in tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis.

Pemigatinib, an oral kinases inhibitor, was approved under the brand name PEMAZYRE for the treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable locally advanced, or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusion. The FDA-approved indication for pemigatinib was granted under accelerated approval based on the overall response rate and duration of response in pre-marketing clinical trials. The drug inhibited FGFR1-3 phosphorylation and signaling and decreased cell viability in cancer cell lines with activating FGFR amplification and fusions that resulted in constitutive activation of FGFR signaling.

Flortaucipir (18F-AV-1451, also known as 18F-T807) is a highly selective positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent targeting paired helical filament (PHF)-tau in the brain. This tracer is studying for clinical assessment in patients with various tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease, as well as in healthy subjects.

TUCATINIB (ONT-380 or ARRY-380) is an orally active, reversible and selective small-molecule HER2 inhibitor invented by Array and licensed to Cascadian Therapeutics (previously named Oncothyreon) for development, manufacturing and commercialization. HER2, a growth factor receptor that is over-expressed in multiple cancers, including breast, ovarian, and stomach cancer. HER2 mediates cell growth, differentiation and survival, and tumors that overexpress HER2 are more aggressive and historically have been associated with poorer overall survival compared with HER2-negative cancers. ONT-380 is highly active as a single agent and in combination with both chemotherapy and Herceptin® (trastuzumab) in xenograft models of HER2+ breast cancer, including models of CNS metastases that were refractory to Tykerb® (lapatinib) or neratinib treatment. In a Phase 1 single agent clinical study, ONT-380 administered orally twice a day was well tolerated and demonstrated anti-tumor activity in heavily pre-treated HER2+ breast cancer patients with metastatic disease. Based on the strength of these preclinical and clinical trials, ONT-380 is advancing in one Phase 2 and three Phase 1b combination trials in patients with metastatic breast cancer. A second study reported the CNS activity of ONT-380 in combination with either T-DM1 or trastuzumab or capecitabine. Patients with brain metastases assessable for response were included in the combined analysis. Responses and clinical benefit in the CNS were reported with the three combinations tested, supporting future development of the drug for this particular indication.

Sodium artesunate, an artemisinin derivative, is used in malaria treatment. Artesunate, has been licensed in Thailand for the treatment of falciparum malaria since 1990. It is a potent antimalarial drug that can reduce parasitaemia by 90% within 24 h of administration. Sodium artesunate was first isolated in China, it is a water soluble antimalaria used clinically in China.