Ralimetinib (LY2228820), a trisubstituted imidazole derivative, is a potent and selective, ATP-competitive inhibitor of the α- and β-isoforms of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. LY2228820 produced significant tumor growth delay in multiple in vivo cancer models (melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian, glioma, myeloma, breast). Eli Lilly is developing ralimetinib for the treatment of cancer.

Taselisib (GDC-0032) is an highly selective small-molecule inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) p110-α isoform (PIK3CA). Taselisib is designed to bind to the ATP-binding pocket of PIK3CA to potentially prevent subsequent downstream signaling. Taselisib caused a strong differential growth inhibition in carcinoma cells harbored oncogenic PIK3CA mutations. In preclinical studies, taselisib induced growth inhibition in PIK3CA-mutant xenograft mouse models. Genentech (a Roche subsidiary) is developing taselib primarily for the treatment of solid tumours.

Canertinib or CI-1033 (N-[4-[N-(3-Chloro-4-fluorophenyl)amino]-7-[3-(4-morpholinyl)propoxy]quinazolin-6-yl]acrylamide) is a pan-erbB tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It selectively inhibits erbB1 (epidermal growth factor receptor), erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 without inhibiting tyrosine kinase activity of receptors such as platelet-derived growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor, and insulin receptor, even at high concentrations. Canertinib was under development by Pfizer Inc as a potential treatment for cancer.

Elinafide (LU 79553) is a bisintercalating naphthalamide and a topoisomerase II inhibitor has demonstrated a higher binding affinity for DNA and significant antitumour efficacy against a panel of established tumour cell lines, including several multidrug resistant-positive sublines. Elinafide had been in phase II clinical trial for the treatment of ovarian cancer and phase I trials for the treatment of various solid tumours. The major haematological toxicities observed were anaemia and neutropenia. The major non-haematological toxicities observed in the 3-weekly schedule were neuro-muscular presenting clinically as a mixed syndrome of severe weakness (sometimes with pain in both legs), myalgia and arthralgia, asthenia/fatigue/malaise. One fatality was considered related to LU 79553, as the patient had fever and neutropenia. Clinical study of this drug candidate was discontinued due to its neuromuscular dose-limiting toxicity.

Linsitinib is an inhibitor of the insulin receptor and the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, which may result in the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and the induction of tumor cell apoptosis. Linsitinib is in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of metastatic prostate carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and other cancers. Common adverse events included fatigue, nausea hyperglycaemia and anorexia.

Saracatinib (AZD0530) is an oral, dual inhibitor of c-Src/Abl kinases initially developed by AstraZeneca for the treatment of cancer. The drug was tested for many neoplasms and reached phase III for ovarian cancer (in combination with paclitaxel), however without demonstrating any significant effect. Sarcatinib is also tested in patients with Alzheimer's Disease (Phase II). Its effect on Alzheimer's Disease patients is explained by inhibition of another kinase, Fyn, which is highly expressed in brain.

Senexin B is a selective CDK8/CDK19 inhibitor developed by Senex Biotechnology Inc. Senexin B is an ATP pocket binder, with very high target selectivity as indicated by kinome profiling. CDK8/19 inhibition produces chemopotentiating, chemopreventive and anti-metastatic effects in different types of cancer.

LY2606368 (Prexasertib) is a small-molecule Chk-1 inhibitors invented by Array and being developed by Eli Lilly and Company. Lilly is responsible for all clinical development and commercialization activities. LY2606368 is advancing in Phase 2 clinical trials for cancer. Prexasertib preferentially binds to and inhibits CHK1 and, to a lesser extent, inhibits CHK2. Chk-1 is a protein kinase that regulates the tumor cell's response to DNA damage often caused by treatment with chemotherapy. In response to DNA damage, Chk-1 blocks cell cycle progression in order to allow for repair of damaged DNA, thereby limiting the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. Inhibiting Chk-1 in combination with chemotherapy can enhance tumor cell death by preventing these cells from recovering from DNA damage.

VX-970 (VE-822) is an ATR kinase inhibitor. VE-822 decreased maintenance of cell-cycle checkpoints, increased persistent DNA damage and decreased homologous recombination in irradiated cancer cells. Vertex Pharmaceuticals is developing VX 970 for the treatment of advanced solid tumours. Phase I/II development is underway in the US for small-cell lung cancer and in the UK for solid tumours. Phase II development of VX 970 as a combination therapy in urogenital cancer, ovarian, primary peritoneal and fallopian tube cancer indications is underway in the US.

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.