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).

Pevonedistat (MLN4924), discovered by Millennium, is a small molecule inhibitor of the NEDD8-Activating Enzyme (NAE), a key component of the protein homeostasis pathway. MLN4924 is a mechanism-based inhibitor of NAE and creates a covalent NEDD8-MLN4924 adduct catalyzed by the enzyme. The NEDD8-MLN4924 adduct resembles NEDD8 adenylate, the first intermediate in the NAE reaction cycle, but cannot be further utilized in subsequent intraenzyme reactions. The stability of the NEDD8-MLN4924 adduct within the NAE active site blocks enzyme activity, thereby accounting for the potent inhibition of the NEDD8 pathway by MLN4924. This drug is in phase II clinical trial for the treatment acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. In addition in phase I for treatment acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The ability of MLN4924 to cross the blood-brain barrier, its low toxicity, and clinical efficacy in other cancers suggests that this drug is an attractive treatment against glioblastomas.

ZSTK474 is a new PI3K inhibitor with strong antitumor activity against human cancer xenografts without toxic effects in critical organs. Specifically, ZSTK474 is an ATP-competitive inhibitor of class I phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase isoforms. ZSTK474 blocks VEGF-induced cell migration and the tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and inhibits the expression of HIF-1α and secretion of VEGF in RXF-631L cells, exhibiting potent in vitro antiangiogenic activity. ZSTK474 demonstrated prophylactic efficacy in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through inhibition of T cell and FLS functions.

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.

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.

Anisodamine is a naturally occurring atropine derivative that has been isolated, synthesized and characterized by scientists in the People's Republic of China. Anisodamine is a non-specific cholinergic antagonist. Anisodamine has been shown to interact with and disrupt liposome structure which may reflect its effects on cellular membranes. Experimental evidence implicates anisodamine as an anti-oxidant that may protect against free radical-induced cellular damage. Its cardiovascular properties include depression of cardiac conduction and the ability to protect against arrhythmia induced by various agents. Anisodamine is a relatively weak alpha(1) adrenergic antagonist which may explain its vasodilating activity. Its anti-thrombotic activity may be a result of inhibition of thromboxane synthesis. Numerous therapeutic uses of anisodamine have been proposed including treatment of septic shock, various circulatory disorders, organophosphorus (OP) poisoning, migraine, gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal colic, acute glomerular nephritis, eclampsia, respiratory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, obstructive jaundice, opiate addiction, snake bite and radiation damage protection. The primary therapeutic use of anisodamine has been for the treatment of septic shock. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain its beneficial effect though most mechanisms are based upon the assumption that anisodamine ultimately acts by an improvement of blood flow in the microcirculation. Preliminary studies suggest another important therapeutic use of anisodamine is for the treatment of OP poisoning. Anisodamine has been employed therapeutically since 1965 in the People’s Republic of China primarily to improve blood flow in circulatory disorders such as septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and as an antidote to organophosphate poisoning.

Patupilone is a compound isolated from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum. Similar to paclitaxel, Patupilone induces microtubule polymerization and stabilizes microtubules against depolymerization conditions. In addition to promoting tubulin polymerization and stabilization of microtubules, this agent is cytotoxic for cells overexpressing P-glycoprotein, a characteristic that distinguishes it from the taxanes. Epothilone B may cause complete cell-cycle arrest. Patupilone failed a phase III trial for ovarian cancer in 2010.

Avagacestat (BMS-708163) is an oral gamma secretase inhibitor designed for selective inhibition of amyloid beta (Aβ) synthesis. Avagacestat was in development by Bristol-Myers Squibb for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Avagacestat is a potent, selective, orally bioavailable γ-secretase inhibitor of Aβ40 and Aβ42 with IC50 of 0.3 nM and 0.27 nM, demonstrating a 193-fold selectivity against Notch. In November 2012, Bristol-Myers Squibb terminated clinical trials of the drug and announced its decision to end further development of avagacestat

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.

AstraZeneca was developing AZD-8055, an orally active mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor, for the treatment of advanced solid tumours. AZD-8055 is an ATP-competitive mTORC1/2 inhibitor that exhibits immunosuppressive and anticancer chemotherapeutic activities. AZD-8055 promotes antibody class switching in B cells at low doses and decreases B cell proliferation and differentiation at high doses. In vivo, this compound suppresses CC4 and CD8 T cell proliferation, increasing survival among MHC-mismatched heart transplant recipients. In vitro, AZD-8055 decreases viability of brain tumor cells; in vivo, it inhibits tumor growth. AZD-8055 had been in phase I trials by AstraZeneca for the treatment of malignant gliomas and solid tumours. However, this research has been discontinued.