AST-1306, also known as Allitinib, is an orally active potent, selective, irreversible inhibitor of the HER family of receptor tyrosine kinases. AST-1306 inhibits the enzymatic activities of wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and ErbB2 as well as EGFR resistant mutant in both cell-free and cell-based systems. AST1306 potently suppressed tumor growth in ErbB2-overexpressing adenocarcinoma xenograft and FVB-2/N(neu) transgenic breast cancer mouse models. Allitinib is in Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Serious adverse effects detected were: diarrhea, dehydration and hyperbilirubinemia.

Kynurenine is a metabolite of the amino acid L-tryptophan used in the production of niacin. Kynurenine is synthesized by the enzyme tryptophan dioxygenase, which is made primarily but not exclusively in the liver, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, which is made in many tissues in response to immune activation. Kynurenine and its further breakdown products carry out diverse biological functions, including dilating blood vessels during inflammation and regulating the immune response. Evidence suggests that increased kynurenine production may precipitate depressive symptoms associated with interferon treatment for hepatitis C. Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in the enzymes that break down kynurenine. Kynurenine production is increased in Alzheimer's disease and cardiovascular disease where its metabolites are associated with cognitive deficits and depressive symptoms.

Adonitol, also known as ribitol, is the reduced alcohol form of ribose. This compound was first described in 1892 Merck annual report as a crystalline pentahydric alcohol obtained from Adonis vernalis. It is a component of teichoic acids found in the cell walls of Gram positive bacteria. Adonitol is a substrate of the enzyme, called ribitol dehydrogenase, which can be used for direct production of allitol from d-fructose without any by-product formation and this may have potential use as an industrial enzyme. Adonitol is also a moiety present in riboflavin (vitamin B2).

Pantetheine is the mercaptoethyl conjugated amide analog of pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5), an intermediate in the production of coenzyme A by the body. Pantetheine is part of two larger compounds (coenzyme A and acyl-carrier protein) that promote a large number of metabolic reactions essential for the growth and well-being of animals. Pantetheine has been found to ameliorate symptoms in various disease models but specifically in Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN). Pantetheine is usually administered in its disulfide form (i.e. pantethine) since pantethine is commercially available and is reduced to pantetheine in biological systems and pantethine was hydrolyzed to pantetheine and pantothenic acid prior to absorption. The applicability and efficacy of pantethine (therefore also pantetheine) as a clinical therapeutic however is hampered since both forms can be degraded by pantetheine present in the body.

Sodium taurodeoxycholate is a bile salt-related, anionic detergent used for isolation of membrane proteins including inner mitochondrial membrane proteins. It is formed by the conjugation of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) with taurine. Sodium taurodeoxycholate and ursodeoxycholic acid are major constituents of black bear bile, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Bear bile was historically employed to treat a number of diseases including jaundice, summer diarrhea, abdominal pain due to hepatobiliary diseases and gastric malfunction, biliary ascariasis, infectious skin diseases, the common cold, intestinal worms, and inflammation of the throat. Sodium taurodeoxycholate has been shown to inhibit apoptosis by modulating mitochondrial membrane perturbation and pore formation, B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated protein X (BAX) translocation, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation. Sodium taurodeoxycholate inhibits amyloid beta (Ab)-induced apoptosis and attenuates the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which are thought to be key components of the pathological process in certain diseases. In clinical studies, Sodium taurodeoxycholate is shown to be very safe with oral administration of 1500 mg/day for up to 6 months. In a more recent clinical study, a dose of 1750 mg/day for up to 4 weeks was well tolerated in healthy obese persons. One of the major adverse effects of Sodium taurodeoxycholate is diarrhea. Based on the related information from ursodeoxycholic acid, other gastrointestinal side effects are possible including abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea, dyspepsia, and anorexia.

Clevudine F18 is a radioconjugate comprised of the synthetic pyrimidine analog clevudine (1-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)thymine, d-FMAU) labeled with the radioisotope fluorine F18. Upon administration, fluorine F18 clevudine is distributed and taken up by cells based on the rate of the cell’s DNA synthesis. The amount is then measured using positron emission tomography (PET). The compound is investigated as an imaging agent in prostate, breast cancers, and other malignant neoplasms.

Lixivaptan is an orally-active, vasopressin 2 receptor antagonist. It is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia, associated with heart failure (HF) and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Adverse events likely to be result of the pharmacologic action of lixivaptan are: constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, insomnia. Grapefruit juice significantly increased the extent of lixivaptan absorption as compared to lixivaptan administered under fasted conditions but not under fed conditions. Lixivaptan Cmax and AUC∞ increased by 2.4-fold and 3.2-fold, respectively, when lixivaptan was administered with ketoconazole (the same in case of Simvastatin).

Pevonedistat (MLN4924), discovered by Millennium, is a small molecule inhibitor of the NEDD8-Activating Enzyme (NAE), a key component of the protein homeostasis pathway. MLN4924 is a mechanism-based inhibitor of NAE and creates a covalent NEDD8-MLN4924 adduct catalyzed by the enzyme. The NEDD8-MLN4924 adduct resembles NEDD8 adenylate, the first intermediate in the NAE reaction cycle, but cannot be further utilized in subsequent intraenzyme reactions. The stability of the NEDD8-MLN4924 adduct within the NAE active site blocks enzyme activity, thereby accounting for the potent inhibition of the NEDD8 pathway by MLN4924. This drug is in phase II clinical trial for the treatment acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. In addition in phase I for treatment acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The ability of MLN4924 to cross the blood-brain barrier, its low toxicity, and clinical efficacy in other cancers suggests that this drug is an attractive treatment against glioblastomas.