Licarbazepine, (R)- is a hydroxy derivative of R-licarbazepine acetate. Eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL), or S-licarbazepine acetate (ESL), Licarbazepine, (R)- acetate and their racemic mixture, as well as other related compounds, were orally assessed in rats for anticonvulsant activity and compared with carbamazepine (CBZ) and oxcarbazepine (OXC). Metabolism of OXC and its derivatives varies considerably between species. Rats metabolize ESL to OXC with minimal (S)-licarbazepine or Licarbazepine, (R)- metabolites. Licarbazepine, (R)- undergoes a further oxidation to the trans-diol metabolite, demonstrating an increased predisposition to earlier inactivation. Administration of ESL and of eslicarbazepine significantly protected mice against Maximal electroshocks-induced seizures, whereas that of Licarbazepine, (R)- failed to provide protection. This finding raises doubts on the contribution of Licarbazepine, (R)- as an active anticonvulsant.

Cinobufotalin, the bufadienolide isolated from toad venom, has displayed antitumor activities in many in vitro systems. It has been shown that cinobufotalin induced significant apoptosis in cultured human lymphoma U-937 cells. It induced DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in U-937 cells. Cinobufotalin induces cytotoxic effect in cultured lung cancer cells. Cinobufotalin (1/5 mg/kg, i.p. twice daily, for 7 days) significantly inhibited A549 xenograft growth in mice. Further, same cinobufotalin administration improved mice survival at week five. Cinobufotalin administration didn’t significantly affect mice body weight, indicating the relative safety of this regimen. Thus, cinobufotalin inhibits A549 xenograft growth in vivo and improves mice survival.

24-Hydroxycalcidiol (24,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3) is a circulating metabolite of vitamin D3. 24,25(OH)2D3 functions by activation of Vitamin D receprtor and promotion of ostecalcin expression, but is less effective than other D3 metabolite, 1alpha,25(OH)2D3. There is conflicting evidence on efffect of 24-hydroxycalcidiol on bone metabolism. In several animal studies it was demonstrated that 24-hydroxycalcidiol was able to stimulate calcification of bone and restore the reduction in bone mineral apposition rate. However, no beneficial effect of 24R,25(OH)2D3 treatment of postmenapausal women on bone mineral density or bone loss and calcium metabolism were observed.

2,2-DIMETHYLBUTYRIC ACID (HQK-1001) is an orally administered SCFAD (Short Chain Fatty Acid Derivative), which has shown an excellent safety profile and biologic effects on fetal hemoglobin induction and red blood cell production in the laboratory, relevant animal models, and in clinical trials carried out in healthy human subjects as well as patients with sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. The compound has received Orphan Drug Designation in the United States and Europe for both sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals was developing HQK-1001 for the oral treatment of sickle cell anaemia and beta thalassaemia. HQK-1001 has been evaluated in phase II trials for beta thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia.

Galactitol (dulcitol) is a sugar alcohol, the reduction product of galactose. Galactitol is known to be the major toxic metabolites of galactose. Deficiency of any one of three possible enzymes involved in the metabolism of galactose: galactokinase, transferase or epimerase results in galactosemia. Any single deficient enzyme can result in cataract through the accumulation of galactitol in the lens. Accumulation of galactose and galactitol within the lens cells leads to an increase in intracellular osmotic pressure and an influx of fluid in the lens. Kinoshita was the first to demonstrate the hyperosmotic effects of intracellular sorbitol or galactitol accumulation and to postulate that the resulting cellular swelling can lead to increased membrane permeability and a series of complex biochemical changes associated with sugar cataract formation. The excretion of abnormal quantities of galactitol in the urine of galactosemia patients is characteristic of this disorder. A patent claims galactitol as carrier for the therapeutic agent since galactitol enhances the chemical and physical stability of the drug and allows faster reconstitution of the formulation in water than mannitol.

IPI-493 (17-AG, 17-Aminogeldanamycin) is the major metabolite of tanespimycin (17-AAG) and retaspimycin (17-DMAG) with potent antineoplastic activity. Hsp90 controls the proper folding, function, and stability of various "client" proteins within cells. Many of the clients of Hsp90 (such as Akt, Bcr-Abl, EGFR, Flt-3, c-Kit and PDGFR α) are oncoproteins or important cell-signaling proteins, and therefore are critical for tumor cell growth and survival. Inhibition of Hsp90 results in degradation of these proteins, which abrogates growth and survival signaling and leads to tumor cell death. IPI-493 has been used in trials studying the treatment of Advanced Malignancies.

L-MTX is a second-generation tau protein aggregation inhibitor. It acts by reducing levels of aggregated or misfolded tau proteins, which are associated with the progressive neurodegeneration. It is currently under development for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.