ABC-294640 is an orally bioavailable and selective sphingosine kinase-2 (SphK2) inhibitor with IC50 of approximately 60 uM. ABC-294640 inhibits SK2, a lipid kinase that catalyzes formation of the lipid signaling molecule sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). S1P promotes cancer growth, and proliferation and pathological inflammation, including TNFα signaling and other inflammatory cytokine production. Specifically, by inhibiting the SK2 enzyme, ABC-294640 blocks the synthesis of S1P which regulates fundamental biological processes such as cell proliferation, migration, immune cell trafficking and angiogenesis, and are also involved in immune-modulation and suppression of innate immune responses from T cells. Preliminary evidence suggests that because of its specificity for targeting SK2, rather than SK1, ABC-294640 may have a better therapeutic ratio than nonspecific sphingosine kinase inhibitors or those targeting only SK1. Oral administration of ABC-294640 to mice bearing mammary adenocarcinoma xenografts results in dose-dependent antitumor activity associated with depletion of S1P levels in the tumors and progressive tumor cell apoptosis. Therefore, this newly developed SK2 inhibitor provides an orally available drug candidate for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. ABC-294640 has completed multiple successful pre-clinical studies in inflammatory, GI, radioprotection and oncology models, as well as a Phase I clinical study in cancer patients with advanced solid tumors.

AZD-1981, developed by AstraZeneca, is a potent (binding IC50 of 4nM), fully reversible, functionally non-competitive antagonist of human CRTh2. It blocks agonist-induced human eosinophil CD11b expression, shape change (including in whole blood), and chemotaxis as well as an basophil shape change and Th2-cell chemotaxis at IC50's of 8.5-50nM. Potency is similar across species as is plasma protein binding (~97%). AZD-1981 is a weak (10s of μM) inhibitor in vitro of CYP2C9, OATP1B1 and UGT1A1 as well as an inducer of CYP3A4. AZD-1981 was well tolerated and no safety concerns were identified.There was no beneficial clinical effect of AZD-1981, at a dose of 1000 mg twice daily for 4 weeks, in patients with moderate to severe COPD. AZD-1981 has being discontinued for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AstraZeneca is collaborating with Johns Hopkins University for the development of AZD-1981 in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria. It is in phase II clinicals studies for the treatment of Urticaria.

Nivocasan (aka GS-9450) was discovered by LG Life Sciences and developed by Gilead Sciences. Nivocasan is an irreversible inhibitor of caspase 1, 8, and 9, and therefore able to prevent apoptosis. Nivocasan has been investigated as a treatment option for Hepatic fibrosis and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis related to Hepatitis C infection. It had advanced to Phase II clinical trials before the development program was suspended.

Fiboflapon sodium (GSK2190915) is a high affinity 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein inhibitor being developed for the treatment of asthma. The compound was originally developed by Amira Pharmaceuticals. Fiboflapon sodium (GSK2190915) exhibits excellent preclinical toxicology and pharmacokinetics in rat and dog. GSK2190915 also demonstrated an extended pharmacodynamic effect in a rodent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) model. Oral administration of Fiboflapon sodium (GSK2190915) (1 mg/kg) resulted in sustained inhibition of ex vivo ionophore-challenged whole blood LTB4 biosynthesis with >90% inhibition for up to 12 h and an EC50 of approximately 7 nM. When rat lungs were challenged in vivo with calcium-ionophore, Fiboflapon sodium inhibited LTB4 and cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) production with ED50s of 0.12 mg/kg and 0.37 mg/kg, respectively. Fiboflapon sodium is in Phase-II for Asthma (Adjunctive treatment) in Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, USA, United Kingdom and Canada (PO).

AFN-1252 (now known as Debio-1452) is an antibiotic drug which is in phase II of clinical trials for the treatment of Staphylococcal skin and skin structure infections. The drug was effective in vitro against all isolates of S.aureus and its effect was explained by inhibition of enoyl-acyl carrier protein Reductase (FabI).

PF-04447943 is a potent, selective brain penetrant PDE9 inhibitor (Ki of 2.8, 4.5 and 18 nM) for human, rhesus and rat recombinant PDE9 respectively and high selectivity for PDE9 versus PDEs1-8 and 10-11. PF-04447943 was being developed by Pfizer for the treatment of cognitive disorders. PF-04447943 attenuates a scopolamine-induced deficit in a novel rodent attention task. PF-04447943 enhances synaptic plasticity and cognitive function in rodents. PF-04447943 has completed Phase II clinical trials in subjects with mild to moderate AD in 2013 but this research was discontinued. Pfizer completes a phase I trial in Sickle cell anaemia.

Buparlisib (NVP-BKM12), a dimorpholino pyrimidine derivative, is a selective pan class I phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor for treating cancer. It penetrates the blood-brain barrier and has a potential as a glioma treatment. NVP-BKM120 inhibits PI3K activity by binding to the ATP binding cleft of this enzymes and was tested against class I PI3K and other kinases using an ATP depletion (Kinase-Glo) assay. The compound was shown to be active against P110 α, β, γ and δ. The inhibition of the PI3K signaling pathways leads to different forms of cell death on the basis of p53 statuses. Buparlisib demonstrated its activity in human glioblastoma (GBM) cells in vitro and in vivo and is in clinical trials for solid tumors including GBM.

Avelestat, also known as AZD9668, is a novel, oral inhibitor of neutrophil elastase (NE), an enzyme implicated in the signs, symptoms, and disease progression in NE-driven respiratory diseases such as bronchiectasis, Cystic Fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via its role in the inflammatory process, mucus overproduction, and lung tissue damage. Its development was discontinued due to unknown reasons. Nevertheless, this drug in the phase II of clinical trial as adjunctive therapy in improving insulin sensitivity of insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic subjects. The drug's clinical profile suggests that it will be well tolerated with few, if any, side effects, and the existence of simple methods that can indirectly measure its activity in vivo.

Swainsonine is an indolizidine alkaloid found in Australian Swainsona canescens, North American plants of the genera Astragalus and Oxytropis and also in the fungus Rhizoctonia leguminocola. It is competitive inhibitor of Golgi alpha-mannosidase II and lysosomal alpha-mannosidases. This compound has been reported to be a potent antiproliferative and immunomodulatory agent. However, no evidence of anti-tumor activity of swainsonine was seen in phase II clinical trial, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Adverse events such as fatigue, nausea and diarrhea were common but generally mild. Swainsonine is locoweed toxin. Locoweed poisoning is seen throughout the world and annually costs the livestock industry millions of dollars. Swainsonine inhibits lysosomal alpha-mannosidase and Golgi mannosidase II. Poisoned animals are lethargic, anorexic, emaciated, and have neurologic signs that range from subtle apprehension to seizures.

Naxagolide (MK-458; L 647,339; (+)-PHNO) is a dopamine D2/D3-receptor agonist, which was studied for the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease, but further study was discontinued. In addition, was discovered, that Naxagolide C-11 ([(11)C]-(+)-PHNO) was a potential radiotracer for imaging the high-affinity state of dopamine D2 receptors with positron emission tomography (PET) in human subjects. This radiotracer is a suitable for imaging the agonist binding sites (denoted D(2HIGH) and D(3)) of these receptors. PET studies in nonhuman primates documented that, in vivo, [(11)C]-(+)-PHNO displays a relative selectivity for D(3) compared with D(2HIGH) receptor sites and that the [(11)C]-(+)-PHNO signal is enriched in D(3) contribution compared with conventional ligands such as [(11)C] raclopride. Recently was published article reflects the relationship between social attachment and dopamine D2/3 receptor availability in the brains of healthy humans using [11C]-(+)-PHNO.