Cinobufotalin, the bufadienolide isolated from toad venom, has displayed antitumor activities in many in vitro systems. It has been shown that cinobufotalin induced significant apoptosis in cultured human lymphoma U-937 cells. It induced DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in U-937 cells. Cinobufotalin induces cytotoxic effect in cultured lung cancer cells. Cinobufotalin (1/5 mg/kg, i.p. twice daily, for 7 days) significantly inhibited A549 xenograft growth in mice. Further, same cinobufotalin administration improved mice survival at week five. Cinobufotalin administration didn’t significantly affect mice body weight, indicating the relative safety of this regimen. Thus, cinobufotalin inhibits A549 xenograft growth in vivo and improves mice survival.

Gepotidacin (formerly GSK2140944) is a novel, first-in-class, triazaacenaphthylene antibacterial that selectively inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV by a unique mechanism, one that is not utilized by any currently approved human therapeutic agent. As a consequence of its novel mode of action, gepotidacin is active in vitro against target pathogens carrying resistance determinants to established antibacterials, including fluoroquinolones. Gepotidacin has demonstrated in vitro activity against key pathogens, including drug-resistant strains, associated with a range of conventional and biothreat infections. GlaxoSmithKline is developing Gepotidacin for the treatment of gonorrhoea and skin and soft tissue infections.

SNX-5422 (also known as PF-04929113) is a synthetic, novel, small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor with potential antineoplastic activity. Hsp90 is a molecular chaperone that plays a key role in the conformational maturation of oncogenic signaling proteins, such as HER2/ERBB2, AKT, RAF1, BCR-ABL, and mutated p53, as well as many other molecules that are important in cell cycle regulation or immune responses. Inhibition of Hsp90 by SNX-2112 may result in the proteasome degradation of oncogenic client proteins, including HER2/ERBB2, and the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. SNX-5422 is originally developed by Pfizer and Serenex, Inc., and the phase I clinical trials for it has been completed in the treatment of solid tumors. Although the mechanism of action remains to be fully elucidated, SNX-5422, which is a prodrug, is rapidly converted to SNX-2112 that accumulates in tumors relative to normal tissues.

Sapanisertib is an oral dual inhibitor of mTORC1/mTORC2, discovered by Intellikine for the treatment of cancer. The drug is being tested in phase II of clinical trials for different cancers among which are sarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. The drug is currently developed by Takeda with breast cancer, renal cancer and endometrial cancer being the main target indications.

Chlorogenic acid is the ester of caffeic acid and (-)-quinic acid. Chlorogenic acid is a naturally occurring plant metabolite and can be found with the related compounds cryptochlorgenic acid and neochlorogenic acid in the leaves of Hibiscus sabdariffa, coffee, potato, eggplant, peaches, and prunes. Chlorogenic acid has been investigated as a dietary supplement to improve glucose intolerant hypoglycemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It has also been identified as a potential anticancer agent by reducing the expression of HIF-1a and Sphingosine Kinase-1. Chlorogenic acid was also identified as a neuraminidase blocker effective against influenza A virus (H1N1 and H3N2).

Mavoglurant (AFQ056) was developed as a new metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) antagonist. The efficacy of mavoglurant in humans has been assessed in L-dopa induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease and Fragile X syndrome in proof of principle clinical studies. However, Novartis had announced that the company would be discontinuing its development program in Fragile X following negative results in a large international clinical trial in adults, and more recently in a trial in adolescents. In both placebo-controlled trials, patients taking mavoglurant did not show improvement over placebo in any outcome measures. In patients with L-Dopa-induced dyskinesias studies failed to meet the primary objective of demonstrating improvement of dyskinesia. Mavoglurant was also investigated in phase II clinical trials to reduce chorea in Huntington's disease, but the target result was not achieved. Currently Novartis is conducting a phase II clinical trial to demonstrate whether or not this drug can benificially reduce cocaine use in Cocaine Use Disorder.

Omtriptolide (previously known as PG490-88 or F60008), an immunosuppressant that has been shown to be the safe and potent antitumor agent and it has been approved entry into Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of prostate cancer in the USA. In addition, the drug is participating in phase I clinical trial for the treatment of myeloid leukemia. Experiments on animals have shown omtriptolide was highly effective in the prevention of murine graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The immunosuppressive effect of the drug was mediated by inhibition of alloreactive T cell expansion through interleukin-2 production. However, this study was discontinued. Recently published article has shown omtriptolide possesses the potential as a prophylactic agent to prevent ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced lung injury.

Veribulin is a novel microtubule destabilizer that both functions as a potent cytotoxin and acts as a vascular disrupting agent (VDA). It binds to the same (or nearby) sites on β-tubulin as colchicine. It is capable of evading multidrug resistance pumps and, thus, achieves high CNS concentrations. It is efficacious in multiple xenograft models without CNS toxicity. Veribulin had previously demonstrated pre-clinical and clinical activity in multiple tumor types. Veribulin is in phase II clinical trial for the treatment of Glioblastoma and Malignant melanoma.

Basimglurant is a potent, selective, and safe mGlu5 inhibitor with good oral bioavailability and long half-life supportive of once-daily administration, good brain penetration, and high in vivo potency. It has antidepressant properties that are corroborated by its functional magnetic imaging profile as well as anxiolytic-like and antinociceptive features. In electroencephalography recordings, basimglurant shows wake-promoting effects followed by increased delta power during subsequent non-rapid eye movement sleep. Basimglurant has favorable drug-like properties, a differentiated molecular mechanism of action, and antidepressant-like features that suggest the possibility of also addressing important comorbidities of MDD including anxiety and pain as well as daytime sleepiness and apathy or lethargy. Basimglurant is being under development by Roche for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (as an adjunct). It is in phase II clinical trials for this indication.

Daniquidone, also known as Batracylin, is a water-insoluble heterocyclic amide with potential antineoplastic activity. Daniquidone inhibits topoisomerases I and II, thereby inhibiting DNA replication and repair, and RNA and protein synthesis. Batracylin advanced as an anticancer agent to Phase I clinical trials where dose limiting hemorrhagic cystitis (bladder inflammation and bleeding) was observed.