Nemorubicin, a doxorubicin derivative, is a DNA-intercalator, topoisomerase and RNA synthesis inhibitor that was undergoing development with Nerviano Medical Sciences (Nerviano MS; formerly Pharmacia Italia) for the treatment of solid tumours, specifically, the loco-regional treatment of primary liver tumours (hepatocellular carcinoma). The drug is active on tumors resistant to alkylating agents, topoisomerase II inhibitors and platinum derivatives. It works primarily through topoisomerase I inhibition. Of note, Nemorubicin is active in cells with upregulation of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway, where current therapies fail. Nemorubicin is biotransformed in the liver into cytotoxic metabolites that may further contribute to render this drug highly active against primary liver tumors or liver metastases. Clinical trials were conducted in Europe, US and China with Nemorubicin given at different dose-schedules and by different routes of administration: as single agent by systemic IV route, oral route and by intra-hepatic artery (IHA) infusion alone or in combination with cisplatin.

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.

Omigapil (CGP 3466 or TCH346) is a structurally related analog of R-(-)-deprenyl that exhibits virtually no monoamine oxidase type B inhibiting activity but is neuroprotective in the picomolar concentration range. It binds to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and at subnanomolar concentrations prevent the S-nitrosylation of GAPDH, inhibit GAPDH-Siah binding and prevent the nuclear translocation of GAPDH. Omigapil demonstrated promising potential in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and motoneuron disease in animal models, however, it did not show efficacy in clinical trials. Omigapil is in development for the treatment of congenital muscular dystrophy.

CNDAC (TAK-109) is an analog of the nucleoside deoxycytidine with potential antineoplastic activity. CNDAC is incorporated into DNA and induces single-strand breaks, which are converted into double-strand breaks (DSBs) when cells go through a second S phase. This results in the cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases, DNA fragmentation, and tumor cell apoptosis. Sapacitabine, a prodrug of CNDAC, is being developed by the US biotechnology company Cyclacel for the treatment of hemalogical cancers and solid tumors.

Elinafide (LU 79553) is a bisintercalating naphthalamide and a topoisomerase II inhibitor has demonstrated a higher binding affinity for DNA and significant antitumour efficacy against a panel of established tumour cell lines, including several multidrug resistant-positive sublines. Elinafide had been in phase II clinical trial for the treatment of ovarian cancer and phase I trials for the treatment of various solid tumours. The major haematological toxicities observed were anaemia and neutropenia. The major non-haematological toxicities observed in the 3-weekly schedule were neuro-muscular presenting clinically as a mixed syndrome of severe weakness (sometimes with pain in both legs), myalgia and arthralgia, asthenia/fatigue/malaise. One fatality was considered related to LU 79553, as the patient had fever and neutropenia. Clinical study of this drug candidate was discontinued due to its neuromuscular dose-limiting toxicity.

Ethidium is a DNA intercalating agent first discovered as and used as a veterenary trypanocide. A bromide salt is commonly used as a fluorescent tag in molecular biology. The fluorescene of ethidium bromide increased 21 fold upon binding to double-stranded RNA, 25 fold upon binding double stranded DNA. Because of the binding to DNA, ethidium bromide is a powerful inhibitor of DNA polymerase.

Rimcazole is a carbazole derivative that acts as a sigma receptor antagonist and studied as potential antipsychotic agent for the treatment of acute schizophrenic patients. In open-clinical trials Rimcazole (BW 234U) appears to be effective in acute schizophrenic patients. However, subsequent clinical trials demonstrated that rimcazole lacked efficacy in schizophrenic patients and it is now primarily used as an experimental tool. In addition to its actions as  receptor antagonist, rimcazole also has high affinity for dopamine transporters, and inrecent years it has served as a lead compound for the development of novel dopamine transporter ligands.

Pravadoline is the anti-nociceptive agent, which has analgesic efficacy against postoperative pain in humans. Pravadoline inhibits the enzyme cyclooxygenase, but in contrast to cyclooxygenase-inhibiting NSAIDs does not produce gastrointestinal irritation. Pravadoline inhibited the synthesis of prostaglandins in mouse brain both in vitro and ex vivo. Pravadoline demonstrated only weak anti-inflammatory activity relative to its anti-nociceptive potency. Single doses of pravadoline were safe and effective in humans, without serious adverse events. Single oral administration of pravadoline maleate induced acute tubular necrosis in male and female beagle dogs.