Lithium is an alkali metal widely used in industry. Lithium salts are indicated in the treatment of manic episodes of Bipolar Disorder. The use of lithium in psychiatry goes back to the mid-19th century. Early work, however, was soon forgotten, and John Cade is credited with reintroducing lithium to psychiatry for mania in 1949. Mogens Schou undertook a randomly controlled trial for mania in 1954, and in the course of that study became curious about lithium as a prophylactic for depressive illness. In 1970, the United States became the 50th country to admit lithium to the marketplace. The specific mechanisms by which lithium exerts its mood-stabilizing effects are not well understood. Lithium appears to preserve or increase the volume of brain structures involved in emotional regulation such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala, possibly reflecting its neuroprotective effects. At a neuronal level, lithium reduces excitatory (dopamine and glutamate) but increases inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmission; however, these broad effects are underpinned by complex neurotransmitter systems that strive to achieve homeostasis by way of compensatory changes. For example, at an intracellular and molecular level, lithium targets second-messenger systems that further modulate neurotransmission. For instance, the effects of lithium on the adenyl cyclase and phospho-inositide pathways, as well as protein kinase C, may serve to dampen excessive excitatory neurotransmission. In addition to these many putative mechanisms, it has also been proposed that the neuroprotective effects of lithium are key to its therapeutic actions. In this regard, lithium has been shown to reduce the oxidative stress that occurs with multiple episodes of mania and depression. Further, it increases protective proteins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and B-cell lymphoma 2, and reduces apoptotic processes through inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 and autophagy.

Luteolin, 3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone, is a common flavonoid that exists in many types of plants including fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. Plants rich in luteolin have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for treating various diseases such as hypertension, inflammatory disorders, and cancer. Luteolin possesses a variety of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Numerous studies have shown that luteolin possesses beneficial neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo.

CHIR 99021 is a selective, pyridimidine-based, glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor that is effective at low nanomolar concentrations in enzyme assays and submicromolar concentrations in isolated cells and tissues. Chiron was developing CHIR 99021 for potential use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. CHIR 99021 promoted insulin-mediated glucose uptake and increased glucose disposal in rodent models of diabetes. However, there has been no recent development reported.

CHIR 99021 is a selective, pyridimidine-based, glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor that is effective at low nanomolar concentrations in enzyme assays and submicromolar concentrations in isolated cells and tissues. Chiron was developing CHIR 99021 for potential use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. CHIR 99021 promoted insulin-mediated glucose uptake and increased glucose disposal in rodent models of diabetes. However, there has been no recent development reported.

CHIR 99021 is a selective, pyridimidine-based, glycogen synthase kinase 3 inhibitor that is effective at low nanomolar concentrations in enzyme assays and submicromolar concentrations in isolated cells and tissues. Chiron was developing CHIR 99021 for potential use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. CHIR 99021 promoted insulin-mediated glucose uptake and increased glucose disposal in rodent models of diabetes. However, there has been no recent development reported.

JNJ-872 is an inhibitor of influenza virus replication that offers a potential for the treatment of pandemic and seasonal influenza.

JNJ-872 is an inhibitor of influenza virus replication that offers a potential for the treatment of pandemic and seasonal influenza.

AT-9283 was being developed by Astex Pharmaceuticals as a treatment for cancer and myelofibrosis. AT-9283 is an inhibitor of mitosis (cell division) and is the second most progressed drug candidate in the Astex portfolio of novel molecularly targeted cancer drugs. All of Astex’s current products have been discovered internally using its proprietary drug discovery approach. AT9283 is a potent inhibitor of the Aurora A and B kinases and has been shown to arrest tumour growth in a range of tumour models. Aurora kinases play a key role in mitotic checkpoint control in cell division. Both Aurora A and B are over-expressed in many human tumours and are believed to be excellent targets for anti-cancer therapy.

AT-9283 was being developed by Astex Pharmaceuticals as a treatment for cancer and myelofibrosis. AT-9283 is an inhibitor of mitosis (cell division) and is the second most progressed drug candidate in the Astex portfolio of novel molecularly targeted cancer drugs. All of Astex’s current products have been discovered internally using its proprietary drug discovery approach. AT9283 is a potent inhibitor of the Aurora A and B kinases and has been shown to arrest tumour growth in a range of tumour models. Aurora kinases play a key role in mitotic checkpoint control in cell division. Both Aurora A and B are over-expressed in many human tumours and are believed to be excellent targets for anti-cancer therapy.

RO-31-8220 is a cell-permeable staurosporine analog, that shows potent inhibition of PKC α, PKC βI, PKC βII, PKC γ, and PKC ε. Ro 31-8220 also inhibits MSK1, MAPKAPK1, RSK, GSK3β, and S6K1 with a potency similar to that for PKC. Ro 31-8220 alters cellular protein kinase C localization and potently inhibits the growth of A549 and MCF-7 cells with IC50 of 0.78 μM and 0.897 μM, respectively. RO 31-8220 enhances epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in catecholamine hypo-responsive platelets by enhancing Akt phosphorylation. Ro 31-8220 significantly decreases apoE secretion from primary human macrophages by inhibiting vesicular transport of apoE to the plasma membrane without significantly affecting apoE mRNA or apoE protein levels.