Cevipabulin is a synthetic, water-soluble tubulin-binding agent with potential antineoplastic activity. Cevipabulin appears to bind at the vinca-binding site on tubulin but seems to act more similar to taxane-site binding agents in that it enhances tubulin polymerization and does not induce tubulin depolymerization. The disruption in microtubule dynamics may eventually inhibit cell division and reduce cellular growth.

Arno Therapeutics is developing AR-12, an orally available, targeted therapy for cancer and infectious diseases. AR-12 is a potentially first-in-class, orally available, targeted anti-cancer agent that has been shown in preclinical studies to inhibit phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1, or PDK-1, a protein in the PI3K/Akt pathway that is involved in the growth and proliferation of cells, including cancer cells. Although FDA-approved drugs that target the Akt pathway have shown efficacy in treating cancer, some tumors either do not respond to these drugs or eventually become resistant to therapy. Scientists hypothesize that a combination of drugs that inhibit different targets in this pathway could provide synergistic or additive benefits to increase efficacy and potentially overcome drug resistance. For this reason, there has been particular interest within the biopharmaceutical industry in developing inhibitors of PI3K, PDK-1, and Akt. AR-12 was licensed to Arno in January 2008 by The Ohio State University Research Foundation for commercial development by Arno as a potential treatment for solid tumors and hematological malignancies. In preclinical studies, AR-12 has shown efficacy in a wide range of tumor types, including breast, lung, prostate, pancreatic, brain and hematological cancers, as both a single-agent as well as in combination with leading oncology therapeutics. Also AR-12 represents a promising class of small molecules with broad-spectrum antifungal activity. AR-12 inhibits fungal acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) synthetase in vitro and is fungicidal at concentrations similar to those achieved in human plasma. AR-12 has a broad spectrum of activity, including activity against yeasts (e.g., Candida albicans, non-albicans Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans), molds (e.g., Fusarium, Mucor), and dimorphic fungi (Blastomyces, Histoplasma, and Coccidioides) with MICs of 2 to 4 ug/ml. AR-12 is also active against azole- and echinocandin-resistant Candida isolates, and subinhibitory AR-12 concentrations increase the susceptibility of fluconazole- and echinocandin-resistant Candida isolates. Also AR-12 acts as a broad-specificity anti-viral drug in vitro and in vivo. AR-12 (OSU-03012) interacts with multiple chaperone proteins of the HSP90 family and the HSP70 family resulting in a broad spectrum of chaperone inactivation. This overall loss of chaperone functionality results in cells being more readily capable of undergoing autophagic processes and in cells that have a reduced competency for virus replication.

ICI-118551 is a selective β2 adrenergic receptor antagonist, that was originally developed for the regulation of blood pressure. ICI-118551 crosses the blood-brain barrier and it was in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of chronic anxiety. Currently, ICI-118,551 has no known therapeutic use in humans although it has been used widely in research to understand the action of the β2 adrenergic receptor, as few other specific antagonists for this receptor are known.

OSI-930 (now SIM-930) is a potent, oral small-molecule receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which acts predominantly against VEGF receptors (VEGFR), c-Kit, and platelet-derived growth factor receptors. OSI-930 has a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profile distinct from other RTK inhibitors, with potent antitumor activity in multiple xenograft models. OSI-930 passed through phase I clinical trial in the USA (in patients with advanced solid tumors) and recieved the clinical approval by China FDA after being out-licensed to Simcere Pharma in China.

MLN8054 is a reversible, ATP competitive inhibitor of recombinant Aurora A, developed by Millennium Pharmaceuticals. MLN8054 was tested in phase I clinical trials against advanced solid tumors. Reversible somnolence probably due to off-target inhibition of alpha-1 subunit of GABA-A receptor was dose limiting and prevented achievement of plasma concentrations predicted necessary for target modulation.

Metamfepramone (dimethylcathinone, dimethylpropion, and dimepropion) was synthesized by various routes in the 1930s and 1940s and clinically evaluated as anorectic as well as a treatment of hypotension and symptoms of the common cold. It was widely used for the treatment of the common cold or hypotonic conditions. Due to its stimulating properties and its rapid metabolism resulting in major degradation products such as methylpseudoephedrine and methcathinone, it has been considered relevant for doping controls by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Metamfepramone was marketed as an appetite suppressant, but was made illegal in 2006.

Darglitazone is a member of the thiazolidinedione class of drugs and an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors. It has a variety of insulin-sensitizing effects, such as improving glycemic and lipidemic control, and is used in the treatment of metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes. Darglitazone sodium had been in phase I clinical trials by Pfizer for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, this study has been discontinued.

A diaminopyrimidine compound R547 is a small molecule selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases CDK1, CDK2 and CDK4 and has excellent in vitro cellular potency, inhibiting the growth of various human tumor cell lines. In vivo, R547 showed antitumor activity in all of the models tested to date, including six human tumor xenografts and an orthotopic syngeneic rat model. R547 was being developed by Roche for the treatment of solid tumours. The compound was undergoing clinical development in the US. However, no recent development has been reported and it is assumed to have been discontinued.

L-778123 is a dual inhibitor of Farnesyl Protein Transferase (FPTase) and Geranylgeranyl Protein Transferase type-I (GGPTase-I), which can completely inhibit Ki-Ras prenylation. L-778123 has been used in phase I clinical trials to determine its effectiveness in treating patients with recurrent or refractory solid tumors. L-778123 was also studied in combination with paclitaxel to determine efficacy as a treatment for both recurrent or refractory solid tumors, and lymphomas.

Fostriecin, an antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces pulveraceus, is a strong inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatases type 2A and type 4, and inhibits the catalytic activity of partially purified Topo II (type II topoisomerase) in a non-competitive manner.