18F-THK-5351 is a novel radiotracer that demonstrates high binding selectivity and affinity for tau pathology and exhibits better pharmacokinetics in the living brain than previous THK tau probes. FluoroTau is in phase II clinical trials as a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent for the diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of Alzheimer's disease(AD) in South Korea. This compound was originally discovered by Tohoku University, and now is being developed by GE Healthcare, Samung Medical Centre and Asan Medical Center.

BI 44370 was developed as a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist for the treatment of acute migraine attacks. In spite of the positive results from the phase II clinical trials, the BI-44370 study has been discontinued.

1,1-DIETHYL-4-PHENYLHOMOPIPERAZINIUM (ASM-024), a small synthetic molecule in clinical stage development, has shown activity at the level of nicotinic receptors and possibly at the muscarinic level and presents anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator properties. Aerosolized ASM-024 reduces airway resistance in mice and promotes in-vitro relaxation of tracheal and bronchial preparations from animal and human tissues. ASM-024 increased in vitro relaxation response to maximally effective concentration of short-acting beta-2 agonists in dog and human bronchi. ASM-024 is able to activate the α7 nAChR channel opening in the presence of the positive allosteric modulator (PNU-120596), indicating that ASM-024 behaves as a ‘silent agonist’ that places the receptor in a desensitized state. Compounds with similar properties have been shown to induce signal transduction pathways independently of ion channel activation. ASM-024 has demonstrated an antagonist effect on ACH-evoked activation at the M1, M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. A comprehensive nonclinical safety program was conducted with ASM-024 including pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies, safety pharmacology studies, toxicology and genotoxicity studies. In all, seven clinical studies were completed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and clinical activity of ASM-024. Three Phase I and four Phase II clinical trials were conducted on healthy subjects and patients with mild allergic asthma, stable moderate asthma and subjects with COPD. Altogether, ASM-024 has been safely administered to more than 200 subjects via the oral and inhalation delivery, i.e. nebulized solution and dry powder inhalation. However, the outcome of two phase II pilot studies in patients failed to demonstrate sufficient efficacy of ASM-024 in asthma and COPD. Thus, further work on ASM-024 on pulmonary diseases was stopped. In light of the findings that ASM‐024 blocks both nicotinic and muscarinic receptor activation, it is believed that ASM-024 will be a potent inhibitor of cell growth. These properties may have the potential to reduce the development or progression of tumors expressing these receptors. Based on a greater knowledge of the unique pharmacological mechanisms of action of ASM-024 developed at Asmacure, Odan is exploring the potential therapeutic role of ASM-024 in the treatment of selected oncology diseases. These studies include the in vitro anti-proliferative properties against a panel of various cancer cell lines and the in vivo anti-tumor activity in selected mouse models. Overall, the most significant inhibitory effect on in vitro cell proliferation was observed on the following cell lines: human lung adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, brain neuroblastoma, prostate adenocarcinoma and malignant melanoma. Preliminary data from a mouse model of lung carcinoma (Lewis Lung Cancer) using a slow infusion delivery method that ASM-024 treatment reduces the size and number of tumor nodules in the lung. In addition the potential therapeutic synergism between ASM-024 with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents will be investigated. Cisplatin and the taxanes (e.g. paclitaxel or Taxol) are commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, but their use is limited by their toxicity rates and innate or acquired resistance to these drugs. The concomitant effect of ASM-024 and cisplatin or Taxol on the proliferation of tumor cells will be assessed in vitro and potentially in in vivo mouse models. In the long term, Odan will consider to pursue the development of ASM-024 in a solution formulation administered intravenously (IV) in conjunction with the commonly-used cancer chemotherapeutic agents, for the growth inhibition and possibly regression of tumors in cancer patients.

VTP-27999 is an alkyl amine renin inhibitor. This compound demonstrated excellent selectivity over related and unrelated off-targets, >15% oral bioavailability in three species, oral efficacy in a double transgenic rat model of hypertension, and good exposure in humans. Vitae Pharmaceuticals was developing VTP 27999 for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. VTP 27999 was in phase I clinical development in the US. However, the product is no more on the company pipeline and it appears that the development has been discontinued.

N-[2-[(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-[3-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)propyl]amino]-2-oxoethyl]-2-[2-(2-fluorophenyl)ethylamino]-N-(2-methylpropyl)acetamide (BN201) is a small peptide molecule, a first-in-class neuroprotective compound. BN201 promotes the survival of cultured neural cells when subjected to oxidative stress or when deprived of trophic factors. BN201 promotes neuronal differentiation, the differentiation of precursor cells to mature oligodendrocytes in vitro, and the myelination of new axons. BN201 modulates several kinases participating in the insulin growth factor 1 pathway including serum-glucocorticoid kinase and midkine, inducing the phosphorylation of NDRG1 and the translocation of the transcription factor Foxo3 to the cytoplasm. In vivo, BN201 prevents axonal and neuronal loss, and it promotes remyelination in models of multiple sclerosis, chemically induced demyelination, and glaucoma. Bionure, a spin-off from Hospital Clínic de Barcelona that is based in California, is developing BN201 for multiple sclerosis, acute optic neuritis (AON) and glaucoma. BN201 was granted with orphan designation status for optic neuritis by the FDA. Optic neuritis is often an early sign of multiple sclerosis. The efficacy, safety, and capacity of the drug to cross the blood-brain barrier have been demonstrated in animal models, but the drug has not yet entered clinical testing.