Entospletinib (GS-9973) is an adenosine triphosphate competitive inhibitor of Syk that disrupts kinase activity, which is currently in clinical trials for multiple B-cell malignancies. The most common treatment-emergent serious adverse events included dyspnea, pneumonia, febrile neutropenia, dehydration, and pyrexia.

Vistusertib (AZ-2014) is a dual inhibitor of mTORC1/mTORC2 which was developed by AstraZeneca for the treatment of cancer. The drug is under clinical development (phase II) in patients with Renal Carcinoma, Squamous Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Meningioma, Breast cancer and Gastric cancer, either alone or in combination therapy. Vistusertib penetrates blood-brain barrier.

ADX-71149 (JNJ-40411813), a phenylpiperidine-substituted pyridone, is positive allosteric modulator (PAM) metabotropic glutamate type 2 (mGlu2) receptor activity. In fed rats, JNJ-40411813 was rapidly absorbed with an absolute oral bioavailability of 31%. ADX-71149 (JNJ-40411813) demonstrates antipsychotic activity in vivo rodents experiments. ADX-71149 (JNJ-40411813) is being jointly developed by Addex Therapeutics and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson company, for the treatment of epilepsy. Addex Therapeutics was also developing the candidate for schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders. However, development in these indications has been discontinued.

Idasanutlin (RG-7388) is a second-generation, orally bioavailable, selective p53-MDM2 antagonist. MDM2 is an important negative regulator of the p 53 tumor suppressor and is expressed at high levels in a large proportion of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Blocking the MDM2-p53 interaction stabilizes p53 and activates p-53 mediated cell death and inhibition cell growth. Idasanutlin is under clinical trial in phase III for treatment AML and in combinations with others drugs in phase I/II for treatment of multiple myeloma.

APR-246 is a methylated form of PRIMA-1, 2-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxymethyl-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-3-one (PRIMA-1MET). APR-246, is a prodrug that is converted to the Michael acceptor methylene quinuclidinone (MQ) that binds covalently to cysteines in p53, leading to refolding and restoration of wild type p53 function. MQ also targets the cellular redox balance by inhibiting thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1) and depleting glutathione. APR-246 can rescue mutant forms of the p53 family members p63 and p73 that share high sequence homology with p53. APR-246 has demonstrated compelling pre-clinical antitumor activity in a wide variety of solid and hematological (blood) tumors, including ovarian cancer, small cell lung cancer, esophageal cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), among others. Furthermore, strong synergy has been seen with both traditional anticancer agents, such as chemotherapy, as well as newer mechanism-based anticancer drugs. A Phase I clinical study has been completed, demonstrating a favorable safety profile and both biological and clinical responses in hematological tumors with mutations in the p53 gene. A Phase Ib clinical study in combination with full dose chemotherapy (carboplatin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) has also been completed, demonstrating a favorable safety profile in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). APR-246 is currently in a Phase II clinical trial in patients with HGSOC, and additional Phase Ib clinical studies of APR-246 in other cancer indications are planned.

PND-1186, also known as SR-2156 and VS-4718, is a potent FAK inhibitor with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 1.5 nM in vitro. PND-1186 has an IC50 of ~100 nM in breast carcinoma cells. PND-1186 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced solid tumors. In addition, an ongoing collaboration with Wash U is evaluating PND-1186 in combination with gemcitabine and Abraxane in 1st line pancreatic cancer.

Nastorazepide (Z-360) is a selective, orally available, gastrin/cholecystokinin 2 (CCK-2) receptor antagonist with potential antineoplastic activity. Z-360 binds to the gastrin/CCK-2 receptor, thereby preventing receptor activation by gastrin, a peptide hormone frequently associated with the proliferation of gastrointestinal and pancreatic tumor cells. It is currently under development as a therapeutic drug for pancreatic cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcers. The most commonly reported adverse events were nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fatigue.

Motesanib (AMG 706), a novel nicotinamide, was identified as a potent, orally bioavailable inhibitor of the VEGFR1/Flt1, VEGFR2/kinase domain receptor/Flk-1, VEGFR3/Flt4 and Kit receptors. Motesanib was expected to reduce vascular permeability and blood flow in human tumours. A phase III trial of motesanib in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in non-squamous NSCLC has been terminated by Takeda and subsequently the development was discontinued. Motesanib has also been investigated up to phase II in breast, thyroid, colorectal and gastrointestinal stromal tumours. However, development has been discontinued in these indications.

JNJ-38877605 is an orally available, small molecule inhibitor of the proto-oncogene c-Met (hepatocyte growth factor receptor [HGFR]) with potential antineoplastic activity. c-Met inhibitor JNJ-38877605 selectively binds to c-Met, thereby inhibiting c-Met phosphorylation and disrupting c-Met signal transduction pathways. JNJ-38877605 was in Phase I clinical trials. Combined clinical and correlative preclinical studies suggest that renal toxicity of JNJ-38877605 is caused by the formation of species-specific insoluble metabolites. These observations preclude further clinical development of JNJ-38877605.

Seviteronel (VT-464) is a 17,20-lyase selective inhibitor of CYP17A1, which plays key roles in adrenal and intratumoral de novo biosynthesis of androgens. The inhibition of 17,20-lyase activity by seviteronel (VT-464) is enough to reduce androgen levels, and its preserving of 17alpha-hydroxylase activity largely avoids interference with the production of other steroidal hormones. Seviteronel (VT-464) also has shown AR-antagonist activity independent of CYP17 enzyme inhibition. It is currently in phase 2 clinical trials as a therapeutic for castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.