Fucoxanthin isis a marine carotenoid mainly found in brown algae, giving them a brown or olive-green color. Fucoxanthin is investigated for its anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and anti-cancer effects. In vivo studies have demonstrated that oral administration of fucoxanthin inhibited carcinogenesis in an animal model of duodenal, skin, colon and liver cancer. Fucoxanthin causes antitumor and anticarcinogenic effects by inducing G1 cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis by modulating expression of various cellular molecules and cellular signal transduction pathways, but the exact mechanism of anti-cancer action of fucoxanthin is not fully elucidated. Fucoxanthin regulates lipids metabolism, the effect most likely mediated by AMK-activated protein kinase. A clinical trial of fucoxanthin against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is ongoing.

Verosudil (AR-12286) is a selective Rho-kinase inhibitor for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension being developed by Aerie Pharmaceuticals in the US. Verosudil was in phase II/III clinical trials for the treatment of glaucoma and in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of ocular hypertension.

ABTL 0812 is a autophagy inducer that acts via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and has a dual mechanism of action. ABTL-0812 is a first-in-class small molecule, orally administered that binds to the nuclear receptors PPARα/γ inducing TRIB3 overexpression which blocks Akt activation, the central kinase of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and inducing PPAR-dependent Endoplasmic Reticular Stress (ER-stress). The combination of TRIB3-mediated inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and the ER-Stress induction results in an autophagy-mediated cancer cell death. In animal cancer models ABTL0812 is efficacious as single agent with an excellent safety profile in a broad spectrum of cancer types: lung, endometrial and pancreatic cancer and neuroblastoma. ABTL0812 is also active on cells resistant to other targeted therapies, on tumor stem cells and inhibits metastasis formation. Preliminary results show promising immunomodulatory effects. ABTL0812 is currently in phase 2 clinical trials in Europe in patients with endometrial cancer or squamous cell lung cancer, as a first-line treatment in combination with chemotherapy and as a maintenance treatment after the chemotherapy cycles. The study is being conducted in leading cancer hospitals in Spain and France. This same phase 2 study was also approved by the US FDA in December 2017. In addition, the FDA approved the protocol for a phase 2 study in pancreatic cancer in January 2018. ABTL-0812 has also received Orphan Drug Designations (ODD) for pancreatic cancer, biliary cancer and the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma by the FDA in the USA and by the EMA in Europe.

Jiangsu HengRui Medicine Co. is developing SHR-117887, an orally active dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (CD26 antigen) inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. SHR-117887 is a potent DPP-4 inhibitor that improves metabolic control and β-cell function in diabetic rodent models. SHR-117887 is in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.