Bibrocathol (trade names Noviform and Posiformin) is a well-established topical antiseptic for the treatment of acute eyelid diseases like blepharitis. Eye ointments containing 2 or 5 % bibrocathol and the excipients liquid paraffin, white soft paraffin, and lanolin have been marketed since 1967 for the treatment of eye irritation, chronic blepharitis, and uninfected corneal injuries. Reports of clinical experience with bibrocathol for inflammation of the edge of the palpebra exist since the beginning of the 20th century. Until recently, no controlled, randomized clinical studies according to the guidelines for Good Clinical Practice for Trials on Medical Products for Human Use (GCP) as defined by the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) have been performed with bibrocathol 2 % ointment, as these were not required for marketing authorization in the 1960s. A first double-blind, prospective, controlled, GCP-compliant clinical study was recently performed to assess the efficacy of bibrocathol 5 % (Noviform®) in acute blepharitis. It demonstrated superior efficacy of bibrocathol 5 % ointment as compared to an ointment vehicle (placebo) after 2 weeks of treatment as assessed by a combined measure of slit-lamp examination results and patients’ subjective complaints.

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.

Apocynin, also known as acetovanillone, is a natural organic compound related to vanillin. It has been isolated from a variety of plant sources. Metabolites of apocynin are able to block the activity of NADPH oxidase, thus giving apocynin antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Effects of apocynin on the concentration of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were investigated in phase I clinical trials. In preclinical models, it was found that apocynin provides neuroprotective effects in models of stroke and Parkinson's disease.

ON-123300 is a potent and multi-targeted kinase inhibitor with potential application for brain tumor chemotherapy. ON123300 strongly inhibits Ark5 and CDK4, as well as growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases such as β-type platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFRβ). ON123300 inhibited U87 glioma cell proliferation and reduced phosphorylation of Akt, yet it also unexpectedly induced Erk activation, both in a dose- and time-dependent manner that subsequently was attributed to relieving Akt-mediated C-Raf S259 inactivation and activating a p70S6K-initiated PI3K-negative feedback loop. ON123300 demonstrated high brain and brain tumor accumulation and favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics.

TIC10 (TIC10 isomer or ONC201 isomer) is a potent, orally active, and stable small molecule and is an efficacious antitumor therapeutic agent that acts on tumor cells and their microenvironment to enhance the concentrations of the endogenous tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). The isomeric structure of TIC10/ONC201 is critical to its activity: anti-cancer activity is associated with the angular structure and not the linear TIC10 isomer. TIC10 transcriptionally induces a sustained up-regulation TRAIL in tumors and normal cells in a p53-independent manner. TIC10 inactivates kinases Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), leading to the translocation of Foxo3a into the nucleus, where it binds to the TRAIL promoter to up-regulate gene transcription. TIC10 crosses the blood-brain barrier. TIC10 treatment caused tumor regression in the HCT116 p53−/− xenograft, RKO human colon cancer xenograft–bearing mice and human triple-negative breast cancer xenografts and significantly prolonged the survival of Eμ-myc transgenic mice, which spontaneously develop metastatic lymphoma from weeks 9 to 12 of age by 4 weeks.

TAK-243 (MLN7243) is a small molecule inhibitor of ubiquitin-activating enzyme (UAE), with potential antineoplastic activity, which was developed by Takeda Oncology, Millennium. MLN7243 binds to and inhibits UAE, which prevents both protein ubiquitination and subsequent protein degradation by the proteasome. This inhibits tumor cell proliferation and survival. UAE, also called ubiquitin E1 enzyme (UBA1; E1), is more active in cancer cells than in normal, healthy cells. Currently, TAK-243 is in phase I clinical trial evaluating safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics against advanced malignant solid tumors phase.

Ampion (LMWF-5A) is a low molecular weight fraction of human serum albumin (HSA) currently being developed for the treatment of pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee. The primary constituent ingredient of Ampion is aspartyl-alanyl diketopiperazine, or DA-DKP, an endogenous immunomodulatory molecule derived from the N-terminus of HSA. Based on published pre-clinical and clinical research, DA-DKP plays a significant role in the regulation of inflammation. DA-DKP is believed to reduce inflammation by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine production in T-cells. Ampion also contains other known small molecules that confer anti-inflammatory effects to complement the activity of DA-DKP and derive demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo effects. Ampio is currently developing Ampion as an intra-articular injection to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, and the final US pivotal trial is underway. Additional pre-clinical and clinical studies have been completed or are underway for Ampion and other chronic inflammatory conditions.

Thiorphan is the first potent synthetic inhibitor of enkephalinase. Thiorphan displays antinociceptive activity after systemic administration. Thiorphan also inhibits to a lesser extent the widely distributed angiotensin-converting enzyme, a carboxydipeptidase implicated in blood pressure regulation. Thiorphan failed to potentiate allergen-induced airway responses in asthma. Thiorphan significantly reduced the castor oil-induced diarrhea in rats when administered intravenously but not when administered intracerebroventricularly. Racecadotril, via its active metabolite thiorphan, was consistently effective in animal models and patients with various forms of acute diarrhea by inhibiting pathologic (but not basal) secretion from the gut without changing gastro-intestinal transit time or motility.

Betanin (betanidin-5-O-beta-glucoside, Beetroot Red) is a red glycosidic food dye obtained from beets. Betanin is the most common betacyanin in the plant kingdom. According to the regulation on food additives betanin is permitted quantum satis as a natural red food colorant (E162). Moreover, betanin is used as colorant in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Recently, potential health benefits of betalains and betalain-rich foods (e.g. red beet, Opuntia sp.) have been discussed. Betanin is a scavenger of reactive oxygen species and exhibits gene-regulatory activity partly via nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2-(Nrf2) dependent signaling pathways. Betanin may induce phase II enzymes and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Furthermore, betanin possibly prevents LDL oxidation and DNA damage. Potential blood pressure lowering effects of red beet seem to be mainly mediated by dietary nitrate rather than by betanin per se.

A-443654 is a potent and selective AKT inhibitor. A-443654 induces rapid Akt Ser-473 phosphorylation independent of mTORC1 inhibition. A-443654 interferes with mitotic progression by regulating aurora a kinase expression. A-443654 inhibits all three Akt isoforms in FL5.12 cells stably transfected with constitutively active myristoylated Akt1/2/3, and showed moderate selectivity when screened against related kinases in the AGC family, such as PKA and PKC20. A-443654 has being shown to extend survival in an intracranial glioma animal model. A-443654, either alone or in combination with existing drugs, may be a useful therapy for primary and drug-resistant T-ALL.