Lidorestat is a highly potent and selective aldose reductase inhibitor with good oral bioavailability that is reported to improve nerve conduction and reduce cataract formation. Lidorestat reduced mortality rates in hAR transgenic mice. Mice receiving lidorestat had similar survival rates as nonhAR-expressing diabetic mice. Lidorestat treatment did not affect plasma lipids, glucose, or weights of diabetic mice. Drugs such as lidorestat will improve human health by reducing the production of toxic products of the polyol pathway. Lidorestat was developed for the treatment of diabetic complications, including neuropathy, retinopathy, cataracts, nephropathy.

RGH-896 (radiprodi) is orally active and selective NMDA NR2B antagonist, a potential therapeutic agent in treatment of neuropathic pain and possibly other chronic pain conditions. It blocks pain signaling without interacting with other NMDA receptor subtypes thus potentially improving therapeutic index and side effect profile. RGH-896 is the first of this group and is currently in early clinical development. Forest and Richter initiated a Phase IIb study in neuropathic pain in the United Stated in the second half of 2006. The drug did not produce significant reductions in patient-reported pain scores for all the dosages tested. Forest says that it and Gedeon Richter will review the findings before making a decision about the further development of radiprodil. In addition to neuropathic pain, the companies intend to investigate various other pain conditions and possibly CNS indications not related to pain. Forest will pay Richter undisclosed upfront and milestone payments in addition to royalties and will have exclusive rights in the U.S. and Canada. The two companies will jointly fund the development program. RGH-896 has patent applications that provide patent protection until at least 2022.

Spirotriazine is a dihydrotriazine derivative patented by Burroughs Wellcome & Co. (U.S.A.) Inc. as the anthelmintic agent. In preclinical models, Spirotriazine shows potent activity against intestinal parasites and negligible microbiological activity.

Galunisertib is a potent inhibitor of TGF beta type 1 receptor. The drug is under clinical development for the treatment of different cancers: pancreatic, hepatocellular, breast, rectal, prostate etc. and reached phase 2/3 in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

LAROMUSTINE is a sulfonylhydrazine alkylating agent. It is metabolized to yield a chloroethylating compound (VNP-4090-CE) and a carbamoylating compound (methyl isocyanate). The former is primarily responsible for the antineoplastic effect of LAROMUSTINE. It alkylates the O6 position of guanine, resulting in DNA crosslinking, strand breaks, chromosomal aberrations, and disruption of DNA synthesis. The carbamoylating species contribute to antitumor activity by inhibiting O6-alkylguanine transferase, an enzyme involved with DNA repair. It was studied in the treatment of several types of cancer, however, its development was discontinued.

Caldaret is intracardiac calcium (Ca2+) handling modulator whose cardioprotective actions are presumed to be due to inhibition of the NCX exchanger and increasing the uptake of Ca2+ via the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Unfortunately, Caldaret failed to demonstrate efficacy in Phase II clinical trials as an adjunct to standard therapy with primary percutaneous coronary intervention patients diagnosed as having an acute myocardial infarction

L-778123 is a dual inhibitor of Farnesyl Protein Transferase (FPTase) and Geranylgeranyl Protein Transferase type-I (GGPTase-I), which can completely inhibit Ki-Ras prenylation. L-778123 has been used in phase I clinical trials to determine its effectiveness in treating patients with recurrent or refractory solid tumors. L-778123 was also studied in combination with paclitaxel to determine efficacy as a treatment for both recurrent or refractory solid tumors, and lymphomas.

Fostriecin, an antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces pulveraceus, is a strong inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatases type 2A and type 4, and inhibits the catalytic activity of partially purified Topo II (type II topoisomerase) in a non-competitive manner.

Xorphanol (also known as TR5379M) is a full κ-opioid receptor agonist and is a partial agonist at μ opioid receptor. Clinically, xorphanol was studied as an orally active analgesic that provided effective pain relief but showed low physical dependence liability. Further development of this drug was discontinued.

Cizolirtine is a potent analgesic in mice and rats, with an efficacy superior to that of aspirin and other nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Recent studies have shown that the analgesic effect of cizolirtine could be related, at least partially, to an inhibition of spinal substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide release. Cizolirtine has been in clinical trials for the treatment of pain and overactive bladder. Reported adverse events are: dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision.