Sivifene (also known as A-007), a triaryl hydrazone that produced objective responses when applied topically. During preclinical studies, sivifene was observed to upregulate both cutaneous and systemic T-lymphocytes, in particular, CD4/8+ lymphocyte subtypes. The current mechanism of action for the drug is unknown however is assumed that it can show its immunomodulating properties through the upregulation of the CD45 T lymphocyte cell surface receptor. Sivifene was being evaluated for its anticancer activities in melanoma, breast cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, and lymphoproliferative disorders. The drug as a 0.25% gel is confirmed as an effective palliative treatment option for cutaneous metastases from cancers. Skin reactions were minimal, tolerated, and no cessation of treatment was required. However, the further development of this drug apparently has been discontinued.

Tucaresol, a substituted benzaldehyde, was being developed by Glaxo Wellcome for the prevention of sickle cell disease. Tucaresol was designed to interact with haemoglobin to increase oxygen affinity and has been shown to inhibit sickling in vitro. Tucaresol is also a low-molecular-weight compound that enhances co-stimulatory signaling to CD4 cells. Immune induction is dependent on transient covalent bonding (Schiff base formation) between carbonyls and amines expressed on antigen presenting cell (APC) and T-cell surfaces. Tucaresol substitutes for the natural donor of carbonyl groups to mimic the transient bonding that is essential for T-cell activation. In preliminary studies, tucaresol has been shown to stimulate HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and generation of naive T cells via thymopoiesis in patients receiving ART who have suppressed viremia. Tucaresol appears to specifically increase type 1 cytokine production. Tucaresol has been used in trials studying the treatment of HIV infections. However, the development of tucaresol for HIV, Hepatitis B and sickle cell diseas treatment has been discontinued.

Lificiguat (YC-1) [3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzylindazole], a chemically synthetic benzylindazole compound, is a direct soluble guanylate cyclase activator. It possessed antiplatelet activity. YC-1 inhibits Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). YC-1 demonstrated antineoplastic potential both in vitro and in vivo in animal models.

LAROTAXEL is a taxoid with potential antineoplastic activity. It prevents microtubule depolymerization, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation. It displays a broad spectrum of antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo, including activity against P-glycoprotein expressing tumors. LAROTAXEL was in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and bladder cancer. However, its development was discontinued.

SITOGLUSIDE (Daucosterol) inhibits cancer cell proliferation by inducing autophagy through reactive oxygen species-dependent manner. It also perturbs cell cycle and induces apoptotic cell death in A549 cells. Daucosterol has being shown to promote the proliferation of neural stem cells. Daucosterol also protects neurons against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion-mediated injury by activating IGF1 signaling pathway. Daucosterol could be potentially developed as a medicine for ischemic stroke treatment.

Belarizine was studied as a cerebral vasodilator.

Ataciguat is a novel anthranilic acid derivative that belongs to a new structural class of sGC activators which are capable of activating the oxidized form of sGC. Ataciguat, a nitric oxide-independent soluble guanylate cyclase activator, is being developed by Sanofi (previously sanofi-aventis), in collaboration with Mayo Clinic and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Ataciguat is in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis. It had been used to treat neuropathic pain and peripheral arterial disease, but this research has been discontinued.

Phenserine, a derivative of physostigmine, was first described as an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and was shown to improve cognition in various experimental paradigms in rodents and dogs. It was clinically tested for Alzheimer's disease, with moderate success in initial Phase II studies. Phenserine is also unique because of differing actions of its enantiomers: (-)-phenserine is the active enantiomer for inhibition of AChE, whereas ( )-phenserine (Posiphen®) has weak activity as an AChE inhibitor and can be dosed much higher. Posiphen® is a small, hydrophobic, orally available molecule that enters the brain readily. It is the only drug ever described that inhibits more than one neurotoxic aggregating protein. Posiphen® inhibits synthesis of amyloid precursor protein (APP), tau and α-Synuclein. mRNA translation of neurotoxic aggregating proteins is up-regulated by iron (Fe) and down-regulated by iron regulatory protein-1 (IRP1). Posiphen® interferes with this second step of the common cascade of the aggregating proteins. It enhances the binding and/or activity of IRP1 to the iron response element (IRE) stem loop in the 5’UTR of the mRNAs of neurotoxic aggregating proteins, therefore specifically lowering their synthesis. By potentiating the IRE/IRP1 complex, Posiphen® lowers the level of free mRNA to be translated by the ribosome. Posiphen® is in development for the treatment neurodegenerative diseases.