Cyclizine (cyclizine hydrochloride, Valoid®) is a histamine H1 antagonist of the piperazine class which is characterised by a low incidence of drowsiness. It possesses anticholinergic and antiemetic properties. The exact mechanism by which cyclizin (cyclizine hydrochloride, Valoid®) can prevent or suppress both nausea and vomiting from various causes is unknown. It increases lower oesophageal sphincter tone and reduces the sensitivity of the labyrinthine apparatus. It may inhibit the part of the midbrain known collectively as the emetic centre.

Codeine is an opiate used to manage mild to moderate pain severe enough to require an opioid. Codeine is a selective agonist for the mu opioid receptor and has an affinity to delta and kappa-opioid receptors. In some countries, this drug is regulated under various narcotic control laws, because its chronic use can cause physical dependence. In others, it is available without a medical prescription in combination with paracetamol.

Menthyl lactate is derived from menthol, a compound that comes from peppermint oil, or is made synthetically. Menthol has a natural cooling effect, which makes it useful as a topical analgesic to treat skin irritation, pain, itching or sunburn. Despite its cooling benefits, menthol can be a skin irritant. Like menthol, menthyl lactate is cooling, but it causes less skin irritation than menthol. Menthyl lactate also has a refreshing, minty taste. For this reason, some manufacturers use it as a flavoring ingredient. The compound is recommended for use as a flavor in concentrations of 0.005% to 0.2% and in cosmetic and other external products in concentrations ranging from 0.2% to 2.0%. Menthyl lactate is a known compound available e.g. from Haarmann & Reimer GmbH (Germany) under the name FRESCOLAT, Type ML.

Aspirin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Aspirin is unique in this class of drugs because it irreversibly inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2 activity by acetylating a serine residue (Ser529 and Ser516, respectively) positioned in the arachidonic acid-binding channel, thus inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins and reducing the inflammatory response. The drug is used either alone or in combination with other compounds for the treatment of pain, headache, as well as for reducing the risk of stroke and heart attacks in patients with brain ischemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Methyl salicylate (or methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate), also known as wintergreen oil, is a natural product and is present in white wine, tea, porcini mushroom Boletus edulis, Bourbon vanilla, clary sage, red sage and fruits including cherry, apple, raspberry, papaya and plum. Methyl salicylate is topically used in combination with methanol and under brand name SALONPAS to temporarily relieves mild to moderate aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with: strains, sprains, simple backache, arthritis, bruises. The precise mechanism of action of methyl salicylate is not known, but there is suggested, that it cause dilation of the capillaries thereby increasing blood flow to the area.

Combretastatin A4 is a vascular disrupting agent (VDA) that targets tumor vasculature to inhibit angiogenesis. Combretastatin A4 is a tubulin-binding agent that binds at or near the colchicine binding site of β-tubulin and inhibits tubulin assembly. This tubulin-binding agent was originally isolated from an African shrub, Combretum caffrum. Combretastatin A4 is cytotoxic to umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and to a range of cells derived from primary tumors and these cytotoxicity profiles have been used to assess several novel analogs of the drug for future development. Combretastatin A4 has antitumor activity by inhibiting AKT function. The inhibited AKT activation causes decreased cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and reduced in vitro migration/invasiveness and in vivo metastatic ability. Several studies in mice have shown that a single administration of combretastatin A4 (100 mg/kg) does not significantly affect primary tumor growth. However, repeated administration (12.5 – 25.0mg/kg twice daily) for periods of 10 – 20 days resulted in approximately 50% retardation of growth of ectopic Lewis lung carcinoma and substantial growth delay of T138 spontaneous murine breast tumors. In clinical studies, Combretastatin A4 has been well tolerated in patients at doses up to 56 mg/m2, following a protocol of five daily 10-minute intravenous infusions every 21 days. The disodium combretastatin A4 phosphate prodrug is currently undergoing clinical trials in the UK and USA.

Exisulind (tentative trade name Aptosyn) is an antineoplastic agent, which was originally developed by Cell Pathways. This drug is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (PDE) isozymes: PDE5 and PDE4. Inhibition of PDE5 appears to be pharmacologically relevant, which leads to increase cGMP and activate protein kinase G at doses that induce apoptosis, whereas cyclic AMP levels were not changed. Exisulind has been in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and for the treatment of polyps in patients who have familial adenomatous polyposis (Colorectal Cancer and Small Intestine Cancer). In addition, this drug was in phase II/III for the treatment of Prostate Cancer, however, there studies have been discontinued.

Tarenflurbil (Flurizan or R-flurbiprofen) is the single enantiomer of the racemate NSAID flurbiprofen. Tarenflurbil is a first in class, selective amyloid-beta42 (A42) lowering agent (SALA), which acts by modulating the activity of gamma-secretase, an enzyme that converts amyloid precursor protein to amyloid-beta. The reduction of A42 may prevent the development of the amyloid plaques thought to be a key pathological process associated with Alzheimer’s disease. For several years, research and trials for the drug were conducted by Myriad Genetics, to investigate its potential as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. In a brief statement issued June 30, Myriad Genetics reports that tarenflurbil (Flurizan) failed to have a significant effect in a phase 3 trial of patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). The failure of Flurizan™ is generally attributed to its insufficient pharmacodynamics, i.e., inadequate ability to penetrate the brain and engage its target protein at doses sufficient to yield an effect. Two additional Phase 3 trials were terminated and further development of Flurizan™ was discontinued. Separate clinical development of Flurizan™ for prostate cancer has also been discontinued following negative Phase 2 results. Tarenflurbil activates c-Jun N terminal kinase, increases AP-1 binding to DNA, and downregulates cyclin D1 expression, resulting in the arrest of tumour cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and apoptosis. This agent also affects the expression of nuclear factor kappa B, a rapid response transcription factor that stimulates the immune response to tumour cells. Tarenflurbil does not inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase. The Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology is currently developing tarenflurbil for the treatment of relapsing, remitting multiple sclerosis.

MK-2866 (Gtx-024) is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) for treatment of conditions such as muscle wasting and osteoporosis. It is a non-steroidal agent with anabolic activity designed to work like testosterone, thus promoting and/or maintaining libido, fertility, prostate growth, and muscle growth and strength. Mimicking testosterone's action, this agent may increase lean body mass, thereby ameliorating muscle wasting in the hypermetabolic state of cancer cachexia.

Alvocidib (also known as Flavopiridol or HMR-1275) is a flavonoid alkaloid CDK9 kinase inhibitor under clinical development for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, by Tolero Pharmaceuticals, Inc. As a broad spectrum CDK inhibitor, Alvocidib can inhibit cell cycle progression in either G1 or G2 and induces G1 arrest in either MCF-7 or MDA-MB-468 cells by inhibition of the CDK4 or CDK2 kinase activity. Alvocidib exhibits potent cytotoxicity against a wide variety of tumor cell lines (LNCAP, HCT116, A2780, K562, PC3, and Mia PaCa-2) with IC50 values ranging from 16 nM for LNCAP to 130 nM for K562. Administration of Alvocidib at 7.5 mg/kg for 7 days displays slight antitumor activity against P388 murine leukemia, and active against the human A2780 ovarian carcinoma implanted sc in nude mice). Alvocidib treatment at 1-2.5 mg/kg for 10 days significantly suppresses collagen-induced arthritis in mice in a dose-dependent manner, by inhibiting synovial hyperplasia and joint destruction, whereas serum concentrations of anti-collagen type II (CII) Abs and proliferative responses to CII are maintained. Tolero Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that the FDA has granted orphan drug designation for Alvocidib, its cyclin-dependent kinase small molecule inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.