Litoxetine is a selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and mixed serotonin agonist-antagonist, which makes it particularly appropriate for treating continence dysfunctions. Litoxetine at concentrations without antimuscarinic properties (10 nM-1 microM) caused concentration-dependent relaxations in the rat isolated oesophageal muscularis mucosae, which reduced carbachol tone up to 37%. Higher litoxetine concentrations (3 microM-300 microM) were associated with marked relaxation up to the abolition of carbachol tone. The antimuscarinic activity of litoxetine, previously demonstrated in the isolated guinea-pig intestine, played a role in the rat isolated oesophageal muscularis mucosae at concentrations greater than 1 microM. The 5-HT-releasing action of litoxetine could account for the potentation by litoxetine of 5-HT-induced relaxation in tissues from untreated rats, which was reversed by pCPA treatment. Litoxetine is in phase II clinical trial for the treatment of urinary incontinence.

Evenamide (NW-3509) is a blocker of voltage-gated sodium channels. Evenamide modulates sustained repetitive firing, without inducing impairment of normal neuronal excitability. It normalizes glutamate release induced by aberrant sodium channel activity. The potential benefits of the compound have been demonstrated in numerous preclinical models predictive of efficacy in psychiatric diseases, including models of psychosis such as amphetamine-induced hyperactivity, sensorimotor gating and information processing deficits (pre-pulse inhibition impairment induced by different stimuli), mania and depression. Evenamide is being evaluated in a Phase II trial as add-on treatment to 5HT2/D2 blocking antipsychotics in schizophrenic patients.

Famitinib, an orally active, small molecule, is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor against multiple targets, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2/3, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and stem cell factor receptor (c-kit). Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co is developing famitinib against a wide variety of advanced-stage solid cancers. Famitinib is participating in phase III clinical trials to evaluate its safety and efficacy in patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma. The other phase III clinical trial for patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer was terminated because of the difficulty in recruitment. In addition, the drug is involved in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, fallopian tube cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, nasopharyngeal cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors.