Betulinic acid (BA) is a plant-derived pentacyclic triterpenoid that exerts potent anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. It`s anticancer property is linked to its ability to induce apoptotic cell death in cancer cells by triggering the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. In contrast to the cytotoxicity of betulinic acid against a variety of cancer types, normal cells and tissue are relatively resistant to betulinic acid, pointing to a therapeutic window. Compounds that exert a direct action on mitochondria present promising experimental cancer therapeutics, since they may trigger cell death under circumstances in which standard chemotherapeutics fail. Thus, mitochondrion-targeted agents such as betulinic acid hold great promise as a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of human cancers. Betulinic acid has antiretroviral, antimalarial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Betulinic acid exerts its inhibitory effect by preventing topoisomerase I-DNA interaction as a result of which the 'cleavable complex' is not formed. In consequence, it also acts as an antagonist to camptothecin-mediated cleavage. The antitumor pharmacological effects of BA consist of triggering apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, regulating the cell cycle and the angiogenic pathway via factors, including specificity protein transcription factors, cyclin D1 and epidermal growth factor receptor, inhibiting the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and nuclear factor‑κB signaling pathways, preventing the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells, and affecting the expression of topoisomerase I, p53 and lamin B1. Betulinic Acid has also been used in trials studying the treatment of Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome. Betulinic acid acts as anti-melanoma agent through inhibiting aminopeptidase N activity with IC50 of 7.3 uM. Betulinic acid is an inhibitor of HIV-1 with EC50 of 1.4 uM.

CPI-613 is a lipoate derivative synthesized to be catalytically inert but to potentially mimic lipoate catalytic intermediates. The drug is in phase II of clinical trials for the treatment of Myelodysplastic syndromes; Pancreatic cancer; Small cell lung cancer; Solid tumors; Bile duct cancer; Acute Myeloid leukemia. The mechanism of CPI-613 action can be explained by (I) inhibition of tumor cell pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) through activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases leading to inactivating phosphorylation of the E1alpha-subunit of PDC; and (II) inhibition of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.

Carabersat is an anticonvulsant devoid of cardiovascular side effects with minimal central nervous system adverse actions. Carabersat does not bind to ion channels, purinergic, aminergic, opioid and other peptidergic receptors. It selectively interacts with its own binding site, which is not yet elucidated. Carabersat has no effect on sodium channels, GABAergic or glutamate pathways. Carabersat had been in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of epilepsy. It has a potential action in preventing migraines because it acts through an inhibition of the cortical spreading depression trigeminal nerve-induced vasodilatation in cats. Its good therapeutic index and the markedly reduced neurological impairments could make it a useful agent for migraine prophylaxis pending efficacy parameters of controlled studies, which are underway.

Norletimol is a Schiff base with promising anti-inflammatory properties. The time taken for elimination of 50% of the Norletimol dose in the urine was approximately five hours. As an antirheumatic agent it was tested in clinical trials in Iraq. It was used in progressive myopia in children.

An orally bioavailable inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and thropomyosin receptor kinase A (TRKA), with potential antineoplastic activity. CDK2/TRKA inhibitor PHA-848125 AC potently inhibits cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and exhibits activity against other CDKs including CDK1 and CDK4, in addition to TRKA. Inhibition of these kinases may result in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of tumor cells that express these kinases. Milciclib is currently in phase II clinical trials for thymic carcinoma, glioma and liver cancer. The most common adverse events are nausea and asthenia, vomiting, myasthenic syndrome, dehydration, hypophosphatemia, cytolytic hepatitis and plantar fasciitis.

Emapunil acts as a selective agonist at the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (TSPO). At the cellular level, the selective TSPO ligand XBD173 potentiated the amplitude and duration of GABA-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents in mouse medial prefrontal cortical neurons, which was prevented by finasteride. In animal and human trials, XBD173 produced rapid anxiolytic and anti-panic effects probably via newly synthesized neurosteroids, without producing sedation or withdrawal symptoms, and may represent a promising target for the development of fast-acting anxiolytics with a more favourable side-effect profile than benzodiazepines.

Moguisteine is a non-narcotic antitussive compound. Moguisteine demonstrated inhibitory effect on rapidly adapting irritant receptors that could account for the antitussigenic effect of this compound. Furthermore, it is possible that ATP-sensitive K(+) channels may be involved in the anti-tussive effect of peripherally acting non-narcotic moguisteine. The drug did not show any toxic effect on the dams and their fetuses, nor did it have any teratogenic effect in either of the tested species. Finally, moguisteine had no adverse effects, either on parturition or on peri-and postnatal survival and/or development of the offspring. It was reported that moguisteine to be effective in reducing cough frequency in chronic cough of bronchitis and COPD. It was recommended for the short-term symptomatic relief of coughing. Preregistration of moguisteine in Italy is discontinued.

Esaprazole, also known as hexaprazole, was developed in the 1980s as a drug for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Esaprazole exerts a dose-dependent cytoprotective effect on the gastric mucosa in man. It was shown to have a dose-dependent antisecretory activity, which was particularly evident on secretion volume and acid output. Esaprazole completed phase II clinical trials with only a few minor side effects being reported, but was shown to be less effective than Cimetidine and Ranitidine at healing ulcers. Esaprazole is a weak sigma opioid receptor and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors M3 and M5 ligand. Esaprazole analogs with many compounds showing neuroprotective properties.

Pravadoline is the anti-nociceptive agent, which has analgesic efficacy against postoperative pain in humans. Pravadoline inhibits the enzyme cyclooxygenase, but in contrast to cyclooxygenase-inhibiting NSAIDs does not produce gastrointestinal irritation. Pravadoline inhibited the synthesis of prostaglandins in mouse brain both in vitro and ex vivo. Pravadoline demonstrated only weak anti-inflammatory activity relative to its anti-nociceptive potency. Single doses of pravadoline were safe and effective in humans, without serious adverse events. Single oral administration of pravadoline maleate induced acute tubular necrosis in male and female beagle dogs.

Albaconazole is a triazole antifungal. Azoles are important antifungal compounds, and all drugs in this class inhibit ergosterol synthesis by blocking the 14-α-demethylase enzyme, resulting in the accumulation of toxic methylsterols that may culminate in fungal death. Albaconazole, an oral agent that has demonstrated high levels of bioavailability and potent antifungal activity. It was under development for the treatment of onychomycosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis. Also, albaconazole was evaluated in phase I, a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with tinea pedis. No serious adverse effects occurred in the studies involving albaconazole. However, this researches on this drug were discontinued.