Adomeglivant, also known as LY2409021, is a potent and selective glucagon receptor antagonist. Adomeglivant lowers blood glucose in healthy people and in those with type 2 diabetes. Blockade of glucagon signalling in patients with type 2 diabetes is well tolerated and results in substantial reduction of fasting and postprandial glucose with minimal hypoglycaemia, but with reversible increases in aminotransferases. Adomeglivant had been in phase II clinical trials by Eli Lilly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, this research has been discontinued.

Mapreg is developing pregnenolone methyl ether (MAP4343), an injectable neurosteroid stimulator of the tubulin polymerisation and neurite growth stimulator. The synthetic pregnenolone-derivative MAP4343 (3β-methoxy-preg-nenolone) binds in vitro to microtubule-associated-protein 2 (MAP2), stimulates the polymerization of tubulin, enhances the extension of neurites and protects neurons against neurotoxic agents. MAP4343 has been selected after screening of a large library ofnatural and synthetic steroids. MAP4343 has similar in vitro activity as pregnenolone; it cannot be converted into metabolites with hormonal activities, and has been shown to have in vivo beneficial effects in rat models of spinal cord injury. MAP4343 has an interesting pharmacological profile because no in vitro affinity for any CNS neurotransmitter receptor was found. MAP4343 has been shown to have antidepressant efficacy in rats. In the rat isolation-rearing model of depression, administration of MAP4343 showed persistent efficacy in recovering recognition memory deficit, stronger and more rapid anxiolytic activity, and more rapid rescue of passive coping behavior compared with FLX. The behavioral effects of MAP4343 correlated with changes in α-tubulin isoforms in the hippocampus, amygdala, and pre-frontal cortex (PFC). Its efficacy was also assessed in vivo with the most commonly used thoracic spinal cord compression/contusion models in rats. In the three models used, the post-traumatic subcutaneous injection of MAP4343 significantly improved the recovery of locomotor function after spinal cord injury, as shown by an earlier and more complete recovery compared to vehicle-treated rats. The results obtained in three different rat models of spinal cord injury demonstrate the beneficial effects of this therapeutic strategy and identify MAP4343 as a potential treatment for acute spinal cord injury. MAP4343 received EU Orphan Drug designation for spinal cord injury. MAP4343 is in phase II clinical trials by Mapreg for the treatment of depression and in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury.

Sergliflozin, a novel oral selective low-affinity sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLT2) inhibitor, improves hyperglycemia by suppressing renal glucose reabsorption, in which SGLT2 participates as a dominant transporter. Its prodrug form, sergliflozin etabonate, is orally available and is converted to sergiflozin upon absorption. Development of sergliflozin has been discontinued in favor of remogliflozin.

Neoandrographolide, one of the principal diterpene lactones, isolated from a medicinal herb Andrographis paniculata Nees. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae), also known as “kalmegh” in India, is a widely distributed plant in Asia. In many traditional formulations, the aerial parts have been used as anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs for the treatment of a variety of chronic and infectious diseases. Neoandrographolide possesses significant anti-inflammatory effects, which implies that it would be one of the major contributing components to participate in the anti-inflammatory effect of A. paniculata. and a potential candidate for further clinical trial.

20-Hydroxyecdysone is a naturally occurring ecdysteroid hormone, which is marketed as dietary supplements that can increase strength and muscle mass during resistance training, particularly bodybuilding. It was found, that 20-hydroxyecdysone did not affect body composition or training adaptations nor did they influence the anabolic/catabolic hormone status or general markers of catabolism in resistance-trained males. Because is known, that ecdysteroids have been shown to prevent various changes in mammalian tissues after female sex hormone deprivation. 20-Hydroxyecdysone also was investigated on these properties. It was found in rats, that 20-Hydroxyecdysone had a beneficial effect on reducing blood pressure and consequently preventing dilated cardiac hypertrophy. Some in vitro experiments showed, that 20-hydroxyecdysone had effects on lymphocytes and neutrophils, and may act as an immunomodulator.