Davasaicin is a synthetic derivative of capsaicin, developed at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology. Davasaicin possesses very potent analgesic activity, demonstrated in several animal models, such as phenylbenzoquinone-induced writhing test, tail-flick test in mice and adjuvant arthritic flexion test in rats. When administered topically, davasaicin has an antipruritic effect in the mouse model.

Furfenorex (unde brand name Frugalan), was used against obesity as an appetite suppressant. One of its metabolite was metamphetamine, which lead to the abuse to the drug. That is why this drug is no longer marketed

Novartis Oncology (previously Novartis) is developing nazartinib (formerly EGF 816), a third generation mutant-selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), for the treatment of solid malignancies, with a focus on non-small cell lung cancer. Nazartinib is a covalent mutant-selective EGFR inhibitor, with Ki and Kinact of 31 nM and 0.222 min−1 on EGFR(L858R/790M) mutant, respectively. Upon oral administration, nazartinib covalently binds to and inhibits the activity of mutant forms of EGFR, including the T790M EGFR mutant, thereby preventing EGFR-mediated signaling. This may both induce cell death and inhibit tumor growth in EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells. EGFR, a receptor tyrosine kinase mutated in many tumor cell types, plays a key role in tumor cell proliferation and tumor vascularization. EGF816 preferentially inhibits mutated forms of EGFR including T790M, a secondarily acquired resistance mutation, and may have therapeutic benefits in tumors with T790M-mediated resistance when compared to other EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. As this agent is selective towards mutant forms of EGFR, its toxicity profile may be reduced as compared to non-selective EGFR inhibitors which also inhibit wild-type EGFR.

Biologically, methanogens in the colon can use carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce methane as a by-product. It was previously considered that humans do not utilize methane. However, in a recent study on rodents, results demonstrated that methane could exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Furthermore, it has bee suggested, that methane-rich saline could be a promising therapeutic agent for clinical treatment of pancreatitis. Methane gas may also be a promising option for the clinical treatment of Acute Lung Injury and Spinal Cord Injury. The exact mechanism underlying the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities of methane is not obvious. Different researchers have proposed different hypotheses. Some have hypothesized that methane might accumulate transiently at the interfaces of cell membranes, thereby changing the physicochemical properties or the in-situ functionality of proteins embedded within this environment. Other investigators have suggested that methane could exert effects on membrane channels affecting G-proteins, membrane or receptor-mediated signaling, or acetylcholine-activated ion channel kinetics. It is unknown if mammalian cells contain an oxygenase that is capable of using methane as a substrate, or if the biological effects of methane are caused by the formation of small amounts of the reactive alcohol, methanol, and/or changes in the redox milieu of the cell due to changes in NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H ratio, and whether or not there is a cellular “receptor” for methane. There are also questions remaining around the difference between intraperitoneal vs inhaled administration of methane.

Ruboxistaurin is an orally bioavailable, selective, potent inhibitor of protein kinase C β developed for treating diabetic retinopathy. In vitro and in vivo non-clinical models have demonstrated that Ruboxistaurin decreases PKC β activity and ameliorates many of the effects of PKC β on pathologic processes in the retina. Ruboxistaurin prevents the slowing of retinal blood flow that is observed by fluorescein video angiography in the eyes of diabetic rats. It is also reported to cause regression of retinal neovascularization produced by laser-induced major branch vein occlusions in a porcine model. Ruboxistaurin positively affected the diabetes-induced retinal blood flow abnormalities in a Phase Ib study in diabetic patients. Ruboxistaurin is in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy and diabetic macular edema. Eli Lilly had submitted Ruboxistaurin for approval in the US and the EU; however, the company subsequently discontinued development as it was unable to demonstrate sufficient efficacy

Amikhellin (AK), an antimitotic drug, is a synthetic water-soluble derivative of khellin, an alkaloid extracted from seeds of Ammi Visnaga. Amikhellin has been used so far mostly as a vasodiator. Amikhellin binds to double-stranded DNA by an intercalation process. It inhibits the DNA-polymerase from murine sarcoma leukemia virus.

Tantalum (Ta) possesses osteoinductivity that was studied in healthy subjects. It is known that the integrin α5β1/ERK1/2 pathway plays a crucial role in regulating rat bone mesenchymal stromal cells (rBMSCs) osteogenic differentiation. Thus, the greater ability of a Ta surface to trigger integrin α5β1/ERK1/2 signaling could explain its better osteoinductivity. Besides, there are no reports of adverse health effects of Ta in industrially exposed workers. In contact with tissue, metallic tantalum is inert.