Namitecan (ST1968) is a camptothecin analogue being developed by sigma-tau (a subsidiary of Alfasigma) in Switzerland for the treatment of cancer. Namitecan, a novel hydrophilic camptothecin analog of the 7-oxyiminomethyl series, was selected for clinical development on the basis of its promising preclinical efficacy. Namitecan is a topoisomerase I inhibitor. Namitecan exhibited an acceptable toxicity profile, with neutropenia being the dose-limiting toxic effect, and clinical benefit was appreciable in patients with different tumor types, particularly bladder and endometrium carcinomas.

Azanator (previously known as Sch 15280), a bronchodilator and an antihistamine drug that acts via a non-adrenergic mechanism to block both histaminergically and cholinergically mediated responses in the tracheobronchial tree. Besides, the drug inhibits cyclic CMP phosphodiesterase. Azanator can have a therapeutic application in cases of chronic cough and cystic fibrosis in man.

Sarafloxacin [A 55620] is a quinolone antibiotic that was under development with Abbott Laboratories in the USA. It was removed from clinical use by its manufacturer Abbott Laboratories from April 30, 2001. It was never approved for use in the US or Canada.

Cidoxepin is the cis-isomer of the widely prescribed tricyclic compound doxepin. Commercial preparations of the tricyclic anti-depressant doxepin contain 15% of the more active cis-doxepin and 85% of the trans-isomer. Elorac, Inc., a rapidly growing specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of dermatological disorders, is pleased to announce that it has acquired worldwide rights to the active agent Cidoxepin from Gideon Pharmaceuticals. Cidoxepin appears to be much more potent than doxepin while having less sedative and cholinergic side effects. Elorac plans to develop oral formulations of the drug to treat urticaria and topical formulations for treatment of atopic and contact dermatitis.

Pinadoline is a competitive PGE2 antagonist. It is an analgesic agent. Pinadoline demonstrated the antinociceptive activity in the rat using the writhing and the formalin tests. In the writhing test, pinadoline was significantly more potent than inhibitors of PG synthesis, but less potent than opiate analgesics. In the formalin test, pinadoline appeared less active than aspirin and ibuprofen and more active than acetaminophen. Pinadoline does not possess the antiinflammatory activity of aspirin and ibuprofen and may be more like acetaminophen, which had diminished antiinflammatory activity. At high concentrations, pinadoline is a non-competitive antagonist of serotonin in guinea-pig ileum.

Metitepine, a psychotropic agent was developed as a non-selective antagonist of serotonin, dopamine, and adrenergic receptors. Metitepine has never been marketed.

Turofexorate Isopropyl (XL335) is a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable FXR agonist. Binds to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of human FXR. Turofexorate Isopropyl resides in a predominately hydrophobic pocket with only a few polar atoms making contact with WAY-362450. Turofexorate Isopropyl promotes transcription of the human BSEP, human SHP, and mouse IBABP genes utilizing reporter constructs with EC50 of 17, 230, and 33 nM, respectively in promoter assays. Turofexorate Isopropyl had been in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. This compound was originally discovered by Exelixis Pharmaceuticals, then licensed to Wyeth (now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pfizer). However, the studies were discontinued.

Enclomiphene (Androxal), in development by Repros Therapeutics Inc, is a non-steroidal estrogen receptor antagonist that promotes gonadotropin-dependent testosterone secretion by the testes. Enclomiphene constitutes the trans-stereoisomer of clomiphene citrate, a drug that has been widely prescribed for several decades for the treatment of female ovulatory dysfunction. Because of the antagonistic effects of enclomiphene, the drug has the potential to increase serum testosterone levels in men with secondary hypogonadism by restoring physiological endogenous testosterone secretion while maintaining testicular volume and, potentially, spermatogenesis. In clinical trials conducted to date, enclomiphene demonstrated significant efficacy in the physiological restoration of testosterone levels in males with secondary hypogonadism. The compound also exhibited an unanticipated favorable effect on fasting plasma glucose; this result has been accompanied by rapidly accumulating evidence from other researchers for a bidirectional relationship between low serum testosterone and obesity/metabolic syndrome (syndrome X) in men.