Sodium artesunate, an artemisinin derivative, is used in malaria treatment. Artesunate, has been licensed in Thailand for the treatment of falciparum malaria since 1990. It is a potent antimalarial drug that can reduce parasitaemia by 90% within 24 h of administration. Sodium artesunate was first isolated in China, it is a water soluble antimalaria used clinically in China.

Nifurtimox is a nitrofuran derivative used as a primary agent in the treatment of American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease) caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, especially in the acute, early stage of the disease. The efficacy of nifurtimox in the treatment of chronic Chagas' disease varies from one country to another, possibly due to variation in the sensitivity of different strains of the organism. Nifurtimox has also been used to treat African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and is active in the second stage of the disease (central nervous system involvement). When nifurtimox is given on its own, about half of all patients will relapse, but the combination of melarsoprol with nifurtimox appears to be efficacious. Nifurtimox forms a nitro-anion radical metabolite that reacts with nucleic acids of the parasite causing significant break down of DNA. Nifurtimox undergoes reduction and creates oxygen radicals such as superoxide. These radicals are toxic to T. cruzi. Mammalian cells are protected by the presence of catalase, glutathione, peroxidases, and superoxide dismutase. Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide to cytotoxic levels results in parasite death. Side effects occur following chronic administration, particularly in elderly people. Major toxicities include immediate hypersensitivities such as anaphylaxis and delayed hypersensitivity reaction involving icterus and dermatitis. Central nervous system disturbances and peripheral neuropathy may also occur.

Oritavancin is an glycopeptide antibiotic with bactericidal activity effective in treating infections caused by Gram-positive organisms. It treats complicated skin and skin structure infections. This drug demonstrates similar activity to vancomycin, but it has stronger activity against Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oritavancin appear to be favourable and once-daily dosing is likely. The incidence of multi-drug resistant bacteria is increasing and explorations into additional treatment options are essential. Oritavancin is marketed under the brand name Orbactiv. Orbactiv is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections caused or suspected to be caused by susceptible isolates of designated Gram-positive microorganisms. Oritavancin has the following mechanism of action: 1) Inhibition of the transglycosylation (polymerisation) step of cell wall biosynthesis by binding to the stem peptide of peptidoglycan precursors 2) Inhibition of the transpeptidation (crosslinking) step of cell wall biosynthesis by binding to the peptide bridging segments of the cell wall 3) Disruption of bacterial membrane integrity, leading to depolarisation, increased permeability and rapid cell death.

Pimilprost (SM-10902) and its free acid, SM-10906 are new stable 3-oxa-methano prostaglandin (PG) I1 analogs, SM-10902 is a prodrug of SM-10906. SM-10906, but not SM-10902 was demonstrated to be an agonist for IP receptors. SM-10906 was shown to exert its anti-platelet and vasodilatory activities through the increase of the cAMP level. Pimilprost was being developed by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma (formerly Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals) in Japan for the treatment of skin ulcers. In Japan, an NDA was filed for pimilprost and was awaiting registration. However, development appears to have been discontinued.

NeuroSearch was developing brasofensine (or NS 2214), an oral dopamine reuptake inhibitor for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Brasofensine successfully passed phase II clinical trial in patients with Parkinson's disease, The drug was safe and well tolerated. However, NeuroSearch discontinued the development of the drug because of the cis-anti isomerization of the 2α-methyloxime group of brasofensine in favor of NS 2230.

Carfimate is chemically known as α-Ethynylbenzenemethanol carbamate having sedative, hypnotic activities.

Troxacitabine is a synthetic nucleoside analogue. It is a poor substrate for nucleoside transporters and gains entry into cells by passive diffusion. Intracellular conversion to its active triphosphate form is via deoxycytidine kinase. Incorporation of this metabolite into DNA results in immediate chain termination and apoptosis induction. It is the first nucleoside analog with anticancer activity that has an unnatural stereochemical configuration. The dose-limiting adverse reactions were stomatitis and hand–foot syndrome.

Naminidil, a potassium channel opener, was under development with Bristol-Myers Squibb as a topical treatment for androgenetic alopecia. The research has been discontinued.

Donitriptan hydrochloride (F 11356) was developed by Pierre Fabre as a brain penetrant 5-HT1B/1D agonist. Which inhibits capsaicin-induced external carotid vasodilation and produces selective carotid vasoconstriction in various animal species. In January 2001, donitriptan had completed phase I trials for migraine and was scheduled to enter phase II development, but before development in phase II, this drug was discontinued.

Alseres Pharmaceuticals is developing an 123I-labelled imaging agent, Altropane®, as a diagnostic aid in Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. Altropane is a molecular-imaging agent that specifically binds to the dopamine transporter (DAT) protein found on the surface of dopamine-producing neurons, making it visible during SPECT imaging. Since most forms of Parkinsonian Syndromes result in a decreased number of dopamine-producing cells, it would be expected that these patients also have fewer DATs than do patients without PS. Thus, it is believed that altropane used in conjunction with SPECT imaging could be a useful test to distinguish Parkinsonian Syndrome tremors from non-Parkinsonian tremor: non-Parkinsonian patients would have more altropane-binding visible in the SPECT image, while Parkinsonian patients would have less. The E isomer of (123)I-2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-(1-iodoprop-1-en-3-yl)nortropane (Altropane(R)) shows high affinity (IC(50) = 6.62 +/- 0.78 nmol) and selectivity (DA/5-HT = 25) for DAT sites in the striatum. Altropane is presently in Phase III clinical development for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.