Juvantia Pharma and Orion developed ORM-12741, also known as ORM-10921, a novel selective antagonist of alpha-2C adrenoceptors for the treatment of depression and Alzheimer's disease. ORM-12741 participated in phase II clinical trial where was evaluated the safety and efficacy of the drug in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In spite of the successfully completed phase II, further study of the drug for this disease was discontinued. In addition, ORM-12741 participated in clinical trial phase II to prove the concept that this drug could prevent blood vessel spasms for Raynaud's phenomenon. Raynaud's phenomenon is a disorder of the digital blood vessels resulting in episodic impairment of blood flow. However, this study was terminated because of the recommendation by study Data and Safety Monitoring Committee to the sponsor following the interim analysis of 8 subjects.

LAVOLTIDINE, also known as loxtidine, is a highly potent and selective histamine H2-receptor antagonist. It is a member of triazoles. It produces gastric carcinoid tumors in rodents that is why its clinical development was discontinued.

Aplaviroc (GW873140) is a small-molecule noncompetitive allosteric CCR5 antagonist or HIV entry inhibitor (EI) that binds specifically to human CCR5 and exhibits potent anti-HIV activity in vitro in the nanomolar or subnanomolar range. Aplaviroc has exhibited potent in vivo antiviral activity (1.66 log decrease in viral load at nadir) following 10 days of monotherapy. In vitro studies of antiviral activity demonstrate that aplaviroc is active against HIV isolates from a variety of clades as well as those resistant to current HIV therapies targeting RT, PR, and gp41. However, GlaxoSmithKline has decided to terminate Phase III trials of aplaviroc after encountering additional cases of liver damage in patients taking the drug.

Elzasonan (CP 448187) is a serotonin 1B/1D receptor antagonist. Elzasonan was primarily metabolized via oxidative N‐demethylation, N‐oxidation, and aryl hydroxylation. Pfizer was developing elzasonan for the treatment of anxiety and affective disorders however development has been discontinued.

Nalmexone is an opioid partial agonist or mixed agonist-antagonist with both analgesic and narcotic antagonist properties. In preclinical models parenteral nalmexone was a moderately active antagonist and therefore might have low abuse potential. At the same time, early work in man indicated analgesic activity in doses above 20 mg.

Triciribine is a purine analogue which inhibits DNA and protein synthesis, it is a synthetic tricyclic nucleoside which acts as a specific inhibitor of the Akt signaling pathway. It selectively inhibits the phosphorylation and activation of Akt1, -2 and -3 but does not inhibit Akt kinase activity nor known upstream Akt activators such as PI 3-Kinase and PDK1. It inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis preferentially in cells that express aberrant Akt1. In whole cells triciribine is phosphorylated by adenosine kinase which may be necessary for its activity. Triciribine is a cancer drug which was first synthesised in the 1970s and trialled clinically in the 1980s and 1990s without success. Following the discovery in the early 2000s that the drug would be effective against tumours with hyperactivated Akt, it is now again under consideration in a variety of cancers. As PTX-200, the drug is currently in two early stage clinical trials in breast cancer and ovarian cancer being conducted by the small molecule drug development company Prescient Therapeutics.

Nisoxetine, 3-(o-methoxyphenoxy)-3-phenyl-N-methyl-propyl-amine, is a most active and selective inhibitor of norepinephrine uptake, which was developed by Eli Lilly as an antidepressant drug. It was shown that nisoxetine dose-dependently reduced acute food intake and the additive effect of it was preserved in obese mice. In addition, was revealed that nisoxetine produced local but not systemic analgesia against cutaneous nociceptive stimuli in rodents. However, this drug has no clinical applications in humans.

Upidosin [REC 152739, REC 22009] is an α1-blocker that was in phase II trials with Recordati in Belgium and Israel for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. When evaluated in radioligand binding assays with expressed animal or human alpha-1 ARs, Upidosin shows marked to moderate selectivity for the alpha-1a AR subtype. Its affinity for the recombinant alpha-2 AR subtypes or native dopaminergic D2 receptor was about 100-fold lower than that for alpha-1a AR subtype.

Varespladib (LY315920; A-001) is a potent and selective inhibitor of IIa, V, and X isoforms of human non-pancreatic secretory phospholipase A2 with nM IC50. The molecule acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by disrupting the first step of the arachidonic acid pathway of inflammation. Varespladib methyl is being developed by Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc for the potential treatment of coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndrome and inflammation. Varespladib methyl is a prodrug that is rapidly metabolized to varespladib, and both compounds are able to potently inhibit the enzymes of the human secretory phospholipase groups. Phase II clinical trials of varespladib methyl in patients with coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and ulcerative colitis revealed that the drug was well tolerated. Varespladib methyl did not demonstrate a good efficacy profile in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and ulcerative colitis; whereas in patients with coronary artery disease, varespladib methyl consistently reduced LDL-cholesterol levels, (elevated LDL-cholesterol levels are a marker of increased cardiovascular risk). Varespladib methyl could represent a novel therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, although the efficacy, safety profile and advantages of this drug compared with existing therapeutic options would need to be established in upcoming phase III trials.

Brequinar is a synthetic quinolinecarboxylic acid analogue with antineoplastic properties. Brequinar inhibits the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, thereby blocking de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. This agent may also enhance the in vivo antitumor effect of antineoplastic agents such as 5-FU. Brequinar had been in phase II clinical trials by Bristol-Myers Squibb for the treatment of cancer and transplant rejection. However, this research has been discontinued. Brequinar had been also in preclinical studys for the treatment of cytomegalovirus infections. However, this research has been discontinued.