Balaglitazone is a second generation peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonist with only partial agonistic properties. It passed phase III clinical trial for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories decided to terminate further clinical development of balaglitazone.

Idronoxil (Phenoxodiol) is a synthetic flavonoid derivative developed by MEI Pharma for cancer treatment. Idronoxil inhibits proliferation of many cancer cell lines and induces apoptosis by disrupting FLICE-inhibitory protein, FLIP, expression and by caspase-dependent and -independent degradation of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, XIAP. In addition, Idronoxil sensitizes drug-resistant tumour cells to anticancer drugs including paclitaxel, carboplatin, and gemcitabine. The antiproliferative effects of Idronoxil are associated with inhibition of plasma membrane electron transport in tumour cell lines and primary immune cells. Idronoxil displays anti-cancer activity against all forms of cancer tested in vitro and in vivo to date, using cells representative of all major forms of cancer. While having a modest ability to kill cancer cells(IC50 range between about 1-5 uM), preclinical studies point to its optimal use being to sensitize cancer cells to the toxic effects of standard therapies (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). The rationale is that a sub-lethal inhibitory effect on sphingosine kinase activity reduces the ability of the cancer cell to operate drug-resistance mechanisms and to effect repair of drug- or radiation-induced damage to DNA. In the case of cytotoxic drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, Doxorubicin, and gemcitabine, Idronoxil is an exquisite sensitizer, increasing the cytotoxic potential of those agents by between 103 -105 times, in the process restoring sensitivity to cancer cells highly refractory to those agents.

Isamoltan (CGP 361A) is a β-adrenoceptor and serotonin 1B receptor antagonist. Isamoltane has reported activity as an anxiolytic in man. Isamoltan had been in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of anxiety. However, this research has been discontinued.

GV 150526A (gavestinel) is an investigational drug for a neuroprotective therapy of acute ischemic stroke within 6 hours of symptom onset. It is a potent and selective non-competitive antagonist at the glycine site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) which reduces infarct volume in experimental stroke models. Gavestinel acts at the strychnine-insensitive glycine binding site of the NMDA receptor-channel complex with nanomolar affinity (pKi = 8.5), coupled with high glutamate receptor selectivity. Gavestinel displays higher than 1000-fold selectivity over NMDA, AMPA and kainate binding sites and is orally bioavailable and active in vivo. GV 150526A inhibited convulsions induced by NMDA in mice, when administered by both IV and po routes (ED50 = 0.06 and 6 mg/kg, respectively). The safety and efficacy of GV150526 were studied in two phase III randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials of acute ischemic stroke patients within 6 h from onset [The Glycine Antagonist in Neuroprotection (GAIN) International and GAIN Americas Trials] sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. The results of these trials suggested that gavestinel was not of substantial benefit or harm to patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage.

Tecastemizole (aka Norastemizole) is an H1 receptor antagonist that showed great promise as potential next-generation antihistamine allergy medication. Sepracor developed Norastemizole through phase III clinical trials; however, the FDA rejected the application for approval on the grounds of an unacceptable profile of adverse side-effects including phospholipidosis and cardiomyopathies in animals exposed to the drug.

Eprotirome (KB2115) is a thyroid hormone mimetic developed at Karo Bio AB (Huddinge, Sweden). Eprotirome has a 22-fold higher affinity for thyroid hormone receptor (TR)β in comparison with TRα. It lowers plasma LDL cholesterol and stimulates bile acid synthesis. Eprotirome can lower LDL cholesterol concentrations in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia when added to conventional statin treatment with or without ezetimibe, but that it has the potential to induce liver injury. These findings, along with findings of cartilage damage in dogs, raise serious doubts about selective thyroid hormone mimetics as a therapeutic approach to lower LDL cholesterol concentrations. Eprotirome development was discontinued.

Idalopirdine (Lu AE58054) is a Serotonin 6 receptor (5-HT6) antagonist. Idalopirdine exrets good oral bioavailability and robust efficacy in a rat model of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. In rats idalopirdine potentiates the effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil on two pharmacodynamic biomarkers associated with cognition, i.e. neuronal oscillations and extracellular ACh levels in the hippocampus. Such potentiation could contribute to the procognitive effects of idalopirdine observed in donepezil-treated Alzheimer's disease patients. The compound is being developed by Lundbeck as an adjunctive therapy with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil, and is in phase III development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in multiple countries worldwide. A phase II trial for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia was conducted; however no recent reports of development for idalopirdine have been identified.

Porfiromycin is an N-methyl derivative of the antineoplastic antibiotic mitomycin-C initially isolated from Streptomyces ardus. Upon administration, the drug undergoes chemical or enzymatic reduction, followed by spontaneous loss of the tertiary methoxy (hydroxyl) group and formation of an aromatic indole system. Thus activated, porfiromycin generates oxygen radicals and alkylates DNA, producing interstrand cross-links and single-strand breaks at guanosine residues. Porfiromycin was tested in phase III for head and neck carcinoma, however, its development was terminated.

Cadazolid is a new antibiotic in development for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. Cadazolid is active against all (including linezolid- and moxifloxacin-resistant) Clostridium difficile strains. In phase I and II clinical trials, cadazolid was shown to be safe, well tolerated, and efficacious positioning itself as a potential future viable therapeutic option for CDI. Using a series of macromolecular labeling, in vitro transcription/translation, and topoisomerase studies, it was determined that protein synthesis inhibition via the oxazolidinone moiety is the primary mechanism of action of cadazolid. Cadazolid is in phase III clinical trials by Actelion Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection. The US FDA has designated cadazolid as both a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and a Fast Track development program for this indication.

Fenretinide (4-HPR) is an orally-active synthetic phenylretinamide analogue of retinol (vitamin A) with potential antineoplastic and chemopreventive activities. Fenretinide binds to and activates retinoic acid receptors (RARs), thereby inducing cell differentiation and apoptosis in some tumor cell types. This agent also inhibits tumor growth by modulating angiogenesis-associated growth factors and their receptors and exhibits retinoid receptor-independent apoptotic properties. Phase III clinical trial data has suggested that fenretinide reduces breast cancer relapse in pre-menopausal women. Fenretinide is the most studied retinoid in breast cancer chemoprevention clinical trials due to its selective accumulation in breast tissue and its favorable toxicological profile. This agent showed a significative reduction of the incidence of second breast tumors in premenopausal women confirmed after 15-year followups. Fenretinide, a drug being developed by Sirion Therapeutics, slowed the progression of advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 45 percent for people receiving a higher dose of the treatment in a Phase II clinical trial. Sirion has been granted a Fast Track designation for the treatment by the FDA. Fenretinide is in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It is also in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.