Tipredane is one of the compounds of a new series of sulfur-containing steroids synthesized at The Squibb Institute for Medical Research and is being developed for topical treatment of human dermatoses. Tipredane is structurally unique in that the classical l7-beta two-carbon side chain and the 17-alpha hydrogen of the steroid have been replaced by two alkylthio substituents. Tipredane has been shown to possess moderate to potent anti-inflammatory activity in various animal models, and to exhibit favorable separation of local anti-inflammatory activity from adverse systemic effects in both animals and humans. After oral administration, [3H]tipredane was rapidly absorbed, metabolized, and excreted into urine and feces. Metabolism of tipredane was rapid and complex, with significant species differences, although the disposition in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys seemed to be similar to humans. Tipredane had been investigated as the therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, asthma and skin disorders. However, this development was discontinued.

Pivanex, also known as AN-9, is a histone deacetylase inhibitor analog of butyric acid that causes apoptosis of cancer cells through signaling cellular differentiation. AN-9 exhibited antimetastatic and antiangiogenic activities by reducing vascularization, bFGF expression, and HIF-1a. An important property of the AN-9 as anticancer agents is its ability to inhibit the growth of multidrug-resistant cancer cells including MCF- 7 Dx, HL-60Mx, and MES-SA-DX and to interact in synergy with doxorubicin in killing cancer cells. Combination of AN-9 and radiation significantly increased mortality of glioma cell lines and, in vivo, inhibited tumor growth and prolonged time to failure in mice bearing glioma xenografts, demonstrating their radiosensitizing function. In clinical trials. Pivanex is well tolerated in patients with advanced NSCLC and is indicative of anti-cancer activity.

Lexithromycin is an early semi-synthetic erythromycin, prepared by reaction of the 9-keto moiety to methyl oxime. Lexithromycin has improved absorption in vivo over erythromycin due to increased hydrophopicity and pH stability. Like all erythromycins, lexithromycin shows broad spectrum antibacterial activity and acts by binding to the 30S and 50S ribosomal sub-units, blocking protein synthesis. Formulations containing lexithromycin were tested in clinical trials as treatment for HIV but were discontinued.

Dimesone is a synthetic glucocorticoid with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activity.

Gestaclone was developed as a progesterone receptor agonist; however, this compound has never been marketed. Information about the current use of this compound is not available.

Salvinorin A has been reported to be the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen, with an effective dose in humans in the 200- to the 1,000-μg range when smoked; it has been reported to induce an intense hallucinatory experience in humans, with a typical duration of action being several minutes to an hour or so. Salvinorin A is a highly selective agonist of the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) with few off-target effects. It is a potent and selective dilator of the cerebral vasculature, exhibits rapid penetration through the blood-brain barrier, has potent anti-inflammatory properties, and has the ability to preserve neurovascular unit integrity. As such, salvinorin A is an ideal compound for the prevention and treatment of cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Dideoxyadenosine (2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine) is a prodrug form of didanosine (2',3'-dideoxyinosine), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor analog of adenosine. 2',3'-Dideoxyadenosine and 2',3'-dideoxyinosine were shown to be equally effective in the inhibition of HIV proliferation in human T cells. Dideoxyadenosine competitively inhibits adenylyl cyclase, thereby reducing levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). By inhibiting cAMP-mediated gene activation in tumor cells, this agent may retard tumor cell proliferation. 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine inhibits retroviral DNA synthesis and mRNA expression in T cells exposed to the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and affords such cells long-term protection in vitro under conditions of substantial viral excess. 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine appears to completely block reverse transcription from viral RNA to viral DNA. 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine was also shown not only to possess antibacterial activity in vitro against a variety of Enterobacteriaceae, but also to be effective in vivo, dideoxyadenosine was active in experimental mouse infections by the oral route against 5 Salmonella strains, 2 of 3 Arizona strains, 5 of 7 Citrobacter strains, 3 of 8 Klebsiella strains, 3 of 5 Escherichia strains, 1 of 3 Shigella strains, and 3 of 15 Serratia strains at concentrations generally well below the toxic level.