Pazelliptine (previously known as BD 40 or SR 95225A) was developed as an antitumor drug that binds to the DNA sequence, preferable to G-C rich region and thus produces cellular DNA lesions. This drug was undergoing phase II trials in France for the treatment of cancer. However, this study was discontinued.

Asulacrine, also known as CI-921, an inhibitor of topoisomerase II, participated in clinical trials phase II for the treatment of cancer. In spite of the positive and promising results, this drug showed the toxicity, phlebitis that blocks its implementation in the future.

Carzelesin is a cyclopropylpyrroloindole prodrug analogue and DNA minor groove binding agent, with antineoplastic activity. Activation of carzelesin requires hydrolysis of a phenylurethane substituent to form U-76073, followed by ring closure to form the cyclopropyl-containing DNA-reactive U-76074. The formation of the DNA-reactive metabolites from carzelesin was shown to proceed very slowly in phosphate-buffered saline, but to occur rapidly in plasma from mouse, rat, dog, and human and in cell culture medium. Although carzelesin was less potent in terms of in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo optimal dosage and showed low affinity for binding to DNA, it was therapeutically more efficacious against mouse L1210 leukemia

Sabarubicin (previously known as MEN-10755), a disaccharide analog of doxorubicin that was developed by Menarini Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of solid tumors, including small cell lung cancer and prostate cancer. Sabarubicin exhibits a superior antitumor efficacy, presumably related to the activation of p53-independent apoptosis. The drug participated in phase II clinical trials to study its effectiveness in treating patients who have progressive prostate cancer that has not responded to hormone therapy and in chemotherapy-naive patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer. On 21 December 2004, the European Commission granted the orphan designation to Menarini for sabarubicin for the treatment of small cell lung cancer.

Intoplicine is a pyrido[4,3-b]indole derivative patented by Rhone-Poulenc Sante as an antitumor agent. Intoplicine acts via inhibiting DNA nicking and closing reactions by stabilizing the cleavable complex, a transient intermediate in the religation reaction involving topoisomerase I and II and DNA. Intoplicine was active in a range of solid tumors in mice, including colon adenocarcinoma 51, MA16/C, MA14/A, MA13/C, early-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 03, Glasgow osteogenic sarcoma and B16 melanoma. In Phase I clinical studies using a 24-h infusion, the maximum tolerated dose was established as 270 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, with hepatotoxicity rather than myelosuppression being dose-limiting, although cardiac toxicity was also seen. Preclinical cytotoxic concentrations were not achieved at the dose levels studied and clinical development was discontinued.

Esorubicin (4'-deoxydoxorubicin, NSC 267469) is a synthetic derivative of the anthracycline antineoplastic antibiotic doxorubicin with potential antineoplastic activity. Esorubicin intercalates into DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II, thereby inhibiting DNA replication and ultimately, interfering with RNA and protein synthesis. This agent exhibits less cardiotoxicity than the parent antibiotic doxorubicin, but may cause more severe myelosupression compared to other compounds within the anthracycline class. Esorubicin was being clinically tested for the treatment of solid tumors as well as lymphomas an leukemias. Esorubicin development has been discontinued.

Detorubicin is a semi-synthetic derivative of the anthracycline antineoplastic antibiotic. It intercalates into DNA and interacts with topoisomerase II, thereby inhibiting DNA replication and repair and RNA and protein synthesis. This agent also produces toxic free-radical intermediates and interacts with cell membrane lipids causing lipid peroxidation. Detorubicin is less toxic than daunorubicin. Although it showed some clinical activity, the drug appeared to have no particular advantage over doxorubicin except for demonstrated activity against malignant melanoma. Unfortunately, detorubicin clearly has cardiac toxicity – in clinical trial, one patient developed congestive heart failure and other patients revealed endomyocardial biopsy evidence of cardiac toxicity.

Berubicin, an anthracycline derivative, is a DNA binding agent and potent topoisomerase II poison. Reata Pharmaceuticals were developing it as a treatment for brain cancer as it can breach the blood-brain barrier. It had also been in early clinical trials for the treatment of lung cancer and malignant gliomas. However, studies have been terminated. In October 2006, it was granted orphan drug designation from the FDA for the treatment of malignant gliomas. According to a CNS Pharmaceuticals media release in April 2018, berubicin will be studied for glioblastoma patients, these investigations will be funded in part by an equity crowdfunding campaign.

Ditercalinium is the antineoplastic agent. Ditercalinium itself is not a natural product, however, it is derived from the natural product 5,11-dimethyl-6H-pyrido-[4,3- b]carbazole (ellipticine) that was isolated in 1959. It is a rare example of a noncovalent DNA-binding ligand that forms bisintercalation complexes via the major groove of the double helix. Ditercalinium selectively recognizes certain GC-rich sequences in DNA. It preferentialy binds with antiparallel quadruplex sequence d(AG(3)[T(2)AG(3)](3)). Ditercalinium chloride can deplete mitochondrial DNA in both mouse and human cells. Ditercalinium chloride inhibits human DNA polymerase gamma activity as efficiently as does ethidium bromide. Ethidium bromide distributes diffusely in the mitochondria of HeLa cells, while ditercalinium chloride distributes granularly and hence may be strongly associated with mitochondrial DNA.

Amotosalen (S-59, psoralen derivative), a chemical capable of binding to nucleic acids is added to platelets. UVA illumination (320 – 400 nm wavelengths) of amotosalen-treated platelet components induces covalent cross-linking of any nucleic acids to which amotosalen is bound; thereby, preventing further replication. Amotosalen is used in the INTERCEPT process to cross-link DNA and RNA. Amotosalen has protective activity against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and leukocytes. Prior to administration amotosalen is added to plasma and platelets, then in vivo this agent penetrates pathogens and targets DNA and RNA. Upon activation by ultraviolet A light, amotosalen forms interstrand DNA and RNA crosslinks and prevents replication. Thus, the pathogen-inactivation system using amotosalen/ultraviolet A offers the potential to mitigate the risk of ZIKV transmission by plasma and platelet transfusion. Inactivation of leukocytes can prevent graft versus host disease upon transfusion.