CNDAC (TAK-109) is an analog of the nucleoside deoxycytidine with potential antineoplastic activity. CNDAC is incorporated into DNA and induces single-strand breaks, which are converted into double-strand breaks (DSBs) when cells go through a second S phase. This results in the cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases, DNA fragmentation, and tumor cell apoptosis. Sapacitabine, a prodrug of CNDAC, is being developed by the US biotechnology company Cyclacel for the treatment of hemalogical cancers and solid tumors.

Decoglurant is a negative allosteric modulator of the mGlu2 and mGlu receptors developed by Roche. Decoglurant was investigated in a phase 2 clinical trials in patients with major depressive disorder. Negative results were reported and the development was discontinued in 2015.

Rapastinel (formerly known as GLYX-13) is an investigational intravenous formulation of a novel NMDA receptor partial agonist, which is being evaluated for adjunctive treatment of Major depressive disorder, and has shown a rapid onset of antidepressant efficacy 1 day after a single dose in a Phase 2 clinical trial of patients with Major depressive disorder who had an inadequate response to one or more antidepressants. No psychotomimetic or hallucinogenic side effects were observed with rapastinel. Few adverse events were reported by 5% or more of subjects and these were rated as mild or moderate. These included headache, somnolence, dizziness, dysgeusia, and fatigue. On January 29, 2016, Allergan (who acquired Naurex in July 2015) announced that rapastinel had received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. FDA for adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder.

CH5183284/Debio 1347 is selective and orally available fibroblast growth factor receptors: FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR3 inhibitor that has a unique chemical scaffold. By interacting with unique residues in the ATP-binding site of FGFR1, FGFR2, or FGFR3, CH5183284/Debio 1347 selectively inhibits there receptors, but does not inhibit kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) or other kinases. CH5183284/Debio 1347 will provide therapeutic opportunities for patients who have FGFR genetic alterations and patients with acquired resistance to existing FGFR selective inhibitors that contain the common methoxy moieties.

Rebastinib (DCC-20) is a TIE2 kinase inhibitor currently in Phase 1 clinical development to treat breast cancer and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Rebastinib potently inhibited TIE2 kinase in cellular assays and blocked primary tumor growth by 75% as a single agent and by 90% in combination with the standard chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel. Furthermore, rebastinib therapy significantly reduced the presence of tumor-promoting macrophages in tumor biopsies by 80%. This blockade of tumor macrophages correlated with inhibition of breast cancer lung metastases.

AZD-4547 is an orally bioavailable inhibitor of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) with potential antineoplastic activity. FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 binds to and inhibits FGFR, which may result in the inhibition of FGFR-related signal transduction pathways, and, so, the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and tumor cell death. FGFR, up-regulated in many tumor cell types, is a receptor tyrosine kinase essential to tumor cellular proliferation, differentiation and survival. AZD-4547 is a selective FGFR inhibitor targeting FGFR1/2/3 with IC50 of 0.2 nM/2.5 nM/1.8 nM in cell-free assays, weaker activity against FGFR4, VEGFR2 (KDR), and little activity observed against IGFR, CDK2, and p38. Compared to FGFR1-3, AZD-4547 displays weaker activity against FGFR4 with IC50 of 165 nM. AZD-4547 only inhibits recombinant VEGFR2 (KDR) kinase activity with IC50 of 24 nM, in the in vitro selectivity test against a diverse panel of representative human kinases. AZD-4547 is under clinical investigation for the treatment of FGFR-dependent tumors. It is in phase II clinical studies for the treatment of breast cancer; gastric cancer; lung cancer; oesophageal cancer and in phase II/III clinical studies for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Pfizer developed fosdagrocorat (PF-04171327), a dissociated agonist of the glucocorticoid receptor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The drug successfully completed the phase II clinical trial; however, further study of the drug was discontinued.

GlaxoSmithKline is developing Camicinal (GSK 962040), an oral motilin receptor agonist for the treatment of gastroparesis. Camicinal is being evaluated in phase II for diabetic gastroparesis and gastroparesis. Camicinal is well tolerated in multiple trials with no serious drug-related adverse events or changes in ECG chemistry when given as a single oral dose of up to 125 mg. Although larger studies are soon to be reported, current evidence shows that adverse events occurred evenly between the placebo and treatment groups, and was generally mild. Camicinal has been previously shown to increase gastric emptying in volunteers after repeat dosing over 14 days with no tolerance effect in patients with gastroparesis and type 1 diabetes. Camicinal meets the criteria of an ideal motilin agonist. The compound activates long-lasting cholinergic contractility at low doses in the antrum with greater efficacy than current therapeutic options.

Gemcitabine elaidate is an ester of anticancer drug gemcitabine and elaidic fatty acid. The motivation to make an ester was to facilitate gemcitabine uptake and prolong retention in the cell. The drug is converted to parent compound gemcitabine both inside and outside the cell. Gemcitabine elaidate was developed by Clavis Pharma for treatment of solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, but its development was discontinued after product missed the primary endpoint in the Phase II LEAP trial to treat metastatic pancreatic cancer.