BX 471 is an oral nonpeptide chemokine receptor1 (CCR1) antagonist that was under clinical development with Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals (formerly Bayer Schering Pharma AG and Berlex) for the treatment of various inflammation-related disorders, including endometriosis. The CCR1 antagonist was also thought to have potential application in diagnostic imaging, particularly as an imaging biomarker for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Berlex initiated the development of the radiolabelled small molecule CCR1 antagonist, BX 471, for a specific diagnostic test for both early detection and for tracking disease progression following the discovery that the CCR1 protein was found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, and that increased levels of this protein were correlated with advancement of the disease. However, development of the agent for diagnostic imaging appears to have been discontinued. BX 471 was also in development for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and psoriasis; however, development in these indications, as well as multiple myeloma and endometriosis, also appears to have been discontinued. A phase II study of BX 471 in endometriosis had been completed.

Navarixin (SCH 527123) is an oral antagonist of CXC receptors 1 and 2. The drug is currently under Phase II trial for the treatment of psoriasis, COPD and asthma.

SRT2104, also known as GSK2245840, is a novel, first in class, highly selective small molecule activator of the NAD + dependent deacetylase SIRT1. SIRT1 has been suggested as putative therapeutic target in multiple age-related diseases including type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemias. SRT2104 in the phase II of clinical trial to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus and psoriasis also in the phase I for its use in case of colitis. Also was reported, that we report that SRT2104, penetrated the blood-brain barrier, attenuated brain atrophy, improved motor function, and extended survival in a mouse model of Huntington's disease.

Tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA) is a hypolipidemic antioxidant with immunomodulating properties involving activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). TTA exerts both hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects in psoriasis patients - TTA can be of therapeutic benefit for a subgroup of psoriatic patients. TTA may improve myocardial function in heart failure, potentially involving its ability to decrease the availability of free fatty acids in plasma and increase the myocardial proportion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. TTA attenuates dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. These effects may occur through mechanisms involving PPAR-alpha and PPAR-delta activation, resulting in increased mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.

Talarozole (formerly R115866) is a new highly potent and selective azole derivative, which inhibits cytochrome-P450-dependent all-trans-retinoic acid catabolism by blocking the cytochrome P450 enzyme isoform CYP26, a retinoic acid hydroxylase. It is in clinical development for the treatment of psoriasis and acne. However, no local pharmacokinetic data on the diffusion behaviour of talarozole in the skin itself are available. As topical application might be an interesting alternative to oral therapy because of the reduced systemic side effects. The distribution of talarozole within the skin was investigated: 80% was located in the epidermis, while the remaining 20% was found in the dermis. The epidermal concentration of talarozole achieved after a single topical application was sufficiently high to enable the potential induction of local retinoid-like effects.

Merimepodib has immunosuppressive activity. It targets hepatitis C indirectly through the inhibition of inositol monophosphate dehydrogenase, which exerts an acute antiproliferative effect on lymphocyte proliferation due to their almost exclusive dependence on the de novo pathway for synthesis of guanosine. Phase II clinical trial study of merimepodib for the treatment of HCV infection and psoriasis were completed. The poor pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic results have resulted in discontinuation of clinical trials.

Cedefingol is a derivative of sphingosine, with potential antineoplastic activity. As a sphingosine derivative, cedefingol appears to inhibit protein kinase C (PKC), a kinase that plays an important role in tumorigenesis.

Apilimod is a small molecule inhibitor of interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 synthesis thereby preventing IL-12/IL-23 mediated immune responses. Apilimod is also observed to inhibit the nuclear accumulation of NF-kappB protein family, and viral infections dependent on phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate 5-kinase (PIKfyve). Apilimod has been investigated as a potential treatment for a number of autoimmune conditions.

Lexacalcitol (KH1060) is over 100 times more active than 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and is of potential interest in the treatment of psoriasis and other diseases characterized by accelerated cell growth and T lymphocyte activation, which was studied in the clinical trial. KH1060 also prevents type I diabetes in the preclinical investigation without significant effects on calcium or bone metabolism. In addition also was shown that neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines were more susceptible to growth inhibition by KH1060, suggesting its possible use in NB to potentiate the action of retinoids, which are in clinical use for this disease. The underlying biochemical reasons for the increased biological activity of KH1060 are unknown, but it can include 1) metabolic considerations in addition to explanations based upon 2) enhanced stability of KH1060-liganded transcriptional complexes.

Liarozole is an imidazole-containing compound that inhibits the cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). Liarozole, a retinoic acid (RA) metabolism-blocking agent (RAMBA) in clinical development, has been granted orphan drug designation for congenital ichthyosis by the European Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Later, based on the mixed results from a phase II/III trial of liarozole for the treatment of ichthyosis, Barrier decided to discontinue the development of liarozole. Liarozole displays antitumor activity against androgen-dependent and independent rat prostate carcinomas.A large phase III international study was completed comparing liarozole 300 mg twice daily with cyproterone acetate (CPA) 100 mg twice daily in a total of 321 patients with metastatic prostate cancer in relapse after first-line endocrine therapy. The results indicate that liarozole might be a possible treatment option for prostate cancer (PCA) following failure of first-line endocrine therapy.