Veliparib (ABT-888) is a potent inhibitor of PARP, has good oral bioavailability, can cross the blood-brain barrier, and potentiates temozolomide, platinums, cyclophosphamide, and radiation in syngeneic and xenograft tumor models. AbbVie is developing veliparib for the treatment of cancers. Clinical trials are underway worldwide, investigating veliparib primarily as part of a combination therapy in oncology indications such as brain, colorectal, melanoma, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers.

Bafetinib (NS-187, INNO-406) is a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor in development by CytRx under license from Nippon Shinyaku for treating Bcr-Abl+ leukemia's, including chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is a rationally developed tyrosine kinase inhibitor based on the chemical structure of imatinib, with modifications added to improve binding and potency against Bcr-Abl kinase. Besides Abl, bafetinib targets the Src family kinase Lyn, which has been associated with resistance to imatinib in CML. In preclinical studies, bafetinib was 25- to 55-fold more potent than imatinib in vitro and ≥ 10-fold more potent in vivo. Bafetinibinhibits 12 of the 13 most frequent imatinib-resistant Bcr-Abl point mutations, but not a Thr315Ile mutation. A small fraction of bafetinib crosses the blood-brain barrier, reaching brain concentrations adequate for suppression of Bcr-Abl+ cells. Data from a phase I clinical trial conducted in patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant CML have confirmed that bafetinib has clinical activity in this setting, inducing a major cytogenetic response in 19% of those patients in chronic phase. Currently, bafetinib is being developed in two phase II clinical trials for patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and prostate cancer, and a trial is in progress for patients with brain tumors. In 2005, the compound was licensed to Innovive Pharmaceuticals (acquired by CytRx Oncology in 2008) by Nippon Shinyaku on a worldwide basis, with the exception of Japan, for the treatment of CML. Orphan drug designation was assigned to the compound for the treatment of CML in the U.S in 2007 and in the E.U. in 2010. Bafetinib is in phase II for the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Ombrabulin is an experimental drug candidate discovered by Ajinomoto and further developed by Sanofi-Aventis for cancer treatment. Ombrabulin is a synthetic water-soluble analog of combretastatin A4, derived from the South African willow bush (Combretum caffrum), with potential vascular-disrupting and antineoplastic activities. Ombrabulin binds to the colchicine binding site of endothelial cell tubulin, inhibiting tubulin polymerization and inducing mitotic arrest and apoptosis in endothelial cells. As apoptotic endothelial cells detach from their substrate, tumor blood vessels collapse; the acute disruption of tumor blood flow may result in tumor necrosis. Ombrabulin has been used in trials studying the treatment of Sarcoma, Neoplasms, Solid Tumor, Neoplasms, Malignant, and Advanced Solid Tumors, among others. In January 2013, Sanofi said it discontinued development of Ombrabulin after disappointing results from phase III clinical trials.

Talarozole (formerly R115866) is a new highly potent and selective azole derivative, which inhibits cytochrome-P450-dependent all-trans-retinoic acid catabolism by blocking the cytochrome P450 enzyme isoform CYP26, a retinoic acid hydroxylase. It is in clinical development for the treatment of psoriasis and acne. However, no local pharmacokinetic data on the diffusion behaviour of talarozole in the skin itself are available. As topical application might be an interesting alternative to oral therapy because of the reduced systemic side effects. The distribution of talarozole within the skin was investigated: 80% was located in the epidermis, while the remaining 20% was found in the dermis. The epidermal concentration of talarozole achieved after a single topical application was sufficiently high to enable the potential induction of local retinoid-like effects.

Rimeporide (EMD-87580) is an Na/H-exchanger-1 (NHE-1) inhibitor and was initially developed for heart failure. This compound reduces the development of both necrosis and hypertrophy, and it was shown to prevent early death in hereditary cardiomyopathy. Rimeporide regulates sodium, pH, calcium overload, reduces inflammation in several muscles, and decreases skeletal, diaphragm and cardiac fibrosis, and muscle cell degeneration. It was therefore further developed as a drug for treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other muscular dystrophies. Rimeporide is expected to act as a muscle-sparing agent. A phase I study has been completed in 2018.

Peretinoin is an orally available, acyclic retinoid with potential antineoplastic and chemopreventive activities. Peretinoin binds to and activates nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RAR), which in turn recruit coactivator proteins and promote, with other transcriptional complexes, the transcription of target genes. As a result, this agent may modulate the expression of genes involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and apoptosis of both normal and tumor cells. Peretinoin inhibits post-therapeutic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma via unclear mechanisms. The European Commission granted Orphan Drug designation for Kowa's peretinoin to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Imexon (INN, trade name Amplimexon) is a substance that is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer, including pancreatic, lung, breast, prostate, melanoma, and multiple myeloma. Imexon is a thiol-binding small molecule which induces mitochondrial oxidation, a loss of membrane potential and cytochrome C, leading to apoptosis.

Tivantinib (ARQ 197) is the first non-ATP-competitive small molecule that selectively targets the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase. Exposure to Tivantinib resulted in the inhibition of proliferation of c-Met-expressing cancer cell lines as well as the induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis in cell lines with constitutive c-Met activity. ArQule and its collaborators Daiichi Sankyo and Kyowa Hakko Kirin are developing tivantinib as a potential therapy for many cancers. c-Met is overexpressed in many cancers. Tivantinib currently is in phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer.