CUDC-305, is a novel heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitor with strong affinity for HSP90 alpha/beta, high oral bioavailability and potent anti-proliferative activity against a broad range of cancer cell lines (with a mean IC50 of 220 nmol/L), including many non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines which are resistant to standard-of-care (SOC) agents. In both laboratory and animal testing, CUDC-305 demonstrated high potency in vitro and/or in vivo across a wide range of cancers. Most notably, Curis scientists observed complete tumor regression following oral administration of CUDC-305 in a mouse xenograft model of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Tumor regression has also been observed after treatment of CUDC-305 in mouse xenograft models of breast, non-small cell lung, gastric cancer and glioblastoma brain cancers. In this preclinical testing, the compound also demonstrated an ability to effectively cross the blood brain barrier, and demonstrated an ability to extend survival in an intracranial glioblastoma model. Early stage toxicity studies suggest that CUDC-305 appears to have a better therapeutic window than several leading Hsp90 inhibitors in clinical development.

(-)-Epigallocatechin is a polyphenol, which occurs naturally in various plants, including green tea leaves. The compound was shown to have anti-cancer activity in vitro, with breast cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer cells. The commercial preparation of Polyphenon E contains about 3% (-)-epigallocatechin as an impurity.

APD668 is a novel, highly potent and orally active glucose-dependent insulinotropic receptor (GDIR) agonist intended to more efficiently stimulate insulin release by beta cells in response to elevated blood glucose levels, and to avoid hypoglycemia. Ortho-McNeil's initial clinical studies evaluated healthy volunteers and patients with type 2 diabetes in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single and multiple (14 day) escalating doses of APD668. Based on the data from those studies, Ortho-McNeil has decided to put APD668 on hold and has advanced a potentially more potent Arena discovered GDIR agonist into preclinical development.

The novel compound ICA-069673 was developed by Icagen, Inc. in a screening program to identify subtype-selective KV7 channel activators. It was found, that this compound is a selective KV7.2/KV7.3 (KCNQ2/3) channel opener, which possesses 20-fold selectivity for KV7.2/KV7.3 over KV7.3/KV7.5, with no measurable activity over a panel of cardiac ion channels. ICA-06967 was orally active in animal models and was used for epilepsy.