AZD1775 selectively targets and inhibits WEE1, a tyrosine kinase that phosphorylates cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1, CDC2) to inactivate the CDC2/cyclin B complex. Inhibition of WEE1 activity prevents the phosphorylation of CDC2 and impairs the G2 DNA damage checkpoint. This may lead to apoptosis upon treatment with DNA damaging chemotherapeutic agents. Current ongoing trials of AZD1775 include monotherapy and combination therapy with certain DNA damaging agents in solid tumors, ovarian tumors, gynaecological cancer, non-small cell lung cancer. AZD1775 is genotoxic, which is considered to be a result of its mechanism of action. Common serious adverse events (with chemotherapy) include: febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia.

Pelitinib (EKB-569) is a 3-cyanoquinoline pan-ErbB tyrosine kinase inhibitor with potential antineoplastic activity. Pelitinib irreversibly binds covalently to epidermal growth factor receptors, thereby inhibiting receptor phosphorylation and signal transduction and resulting in apoptosis and suppression of proliferation in tumor cells that overexpress these receptors. Pelitinib had been in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Treatment-emergent adverse events were diarrhea, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal carcinoma, intestinal obstruction and vomiting.

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.

BMS 599626 is a selective and efficacious inhibitor of HER1 and HER2 with IC50 of 20 nM and 30 nM. BMS-599626 is identified as an ATP-competitive inhibitor for HER1 and as an ATP-noncompetitive inhibitor for HER2. BMS-599626 inhibits the proliferation of tumor cells expressing high levels of HER1 and/or HER2, including Sal2, BT474, N87, KPL-4, HCC202, HCC1954, HCC1419, AU565, ZR-75-30, MDA-MB-175, GEO, and PC9 cells. In a phase I trial of solid tumour patients receiving BMS 599626 no doselimiting toxicities were observed during the first cycle. Grade 1 or 2 drugrelated effects were reported and included diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, rash, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain/cramp and cough. BristolMyers Squibb discontinued development of BMS 599626 for cancer in July 2015

Sanguinarine is an extract of the bloodroot plant Sanguinaria canadensis, a member of the poppy family. It is an inhibitor of protein phosphatases PP1, PP2C and PP2B in vitro. Also inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) and other enzymes. Sanguinarine exerts a protective effect in cerebral ischemia, and this effect is associated with its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. It was clinically tested as an agent against gingivitis and tooth plaques.

Mertansine (Maytansine) is a 19–member ansa macrolide structure attached to a chlorinated benzenering. It was originally isolated from the shrub Maytenus ovatus. Mertansine (DM1) is a tubulin inhibitor, it inhibits the assembly of microtubules by binding to tubulin, with a linker structure can create an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). Mertansine is a potent microtubule-targeted compound that induces mitotic arrest and kills tumor cells at sub-nanomolar concentrations. The antimitotic effect of maytansine has been attributed to its ability to inhibit microtubule assembly by binding to tubulin with a KD of ~ 1 umol/L, at or near the vinblastine-binding site. Experimental ADCs with the SPP-DM1 design include lorvotuzumab mertansine. DM1 can also be linked to an antibody using the SMCC (4-(3-mercapto-2,5-dioxo-1-pyrrolidinylmethyl)-cylohexanecarboxylic acid) linker, in which case the International Nonproprietary Name of the conjugate formed contains the word emtansine. DM1 and its attachment via these linkers result from ImmunoGen Inc research. Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is an anti-HER2/neu antibody-drug conjugate.

The compound StemRegenin 1 (SR1) is a selective, cell-permeable, small molecule that promotes the self-renewal of human hematopoietic stem cells in culture. SR1 is an antagonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. SR1 is the first small molecule that promotes robust expansion/self-renewal of human CD34 peripheral blood and cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The culture of HSCs with SR1 led to a 50-fold increase in cells expressing CD34 and a 17-fold increase in cells that retain the ability to engraft immunodeficient mice. SR1 can be potentially used for ex vivo expansion of normal HSCs or leukemic stem/progenitor cells

HMR 1031 is a potent and specific antagonist of the integrin VLA-4 (alpha4beta1) binding to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and fibronectin. HMR 1031 is an inhaled drug being developed for the treatment of asthma using an Ultrahaler dry-powder inhalation device. The interaction of VLA-4 with VCAM-1 is involved in the extravasations, activation, and extravascular survival of mononuclear leukocyte and eosinophil cell types at sites of airway inflammation. Thus, the VLA-4 antagonist, HMR 1031, has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent.

AZ-1080 (AZD-1080) is an inhibitor of GSK-beta which was developed by AstraZeneca and initially tested in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (phase I). The drug was discontinued for the aforementioned condition, but now it is being investigated as a potential therapy for ovarina cancer and emdometrial carcinoma (basic research).

PHA-543613 was discovered by Pfizer and has been under development primarily as a potential treatment of schizophrenia. PHA-543613 acts as an agonist to the Neuronal acetylcholine receptor protein alpha-7 subunit. A single human trial was conducted in healthy human volunteers, but the compound has been studied extensively in rat models for schizophrenia as well as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.