Fluoroazomycin Arabinoside F-18 (18F-FAZA) is a radiofluorinated 2-nitroimidazole derivative with hypoxia (low oxygen)-specific tracer activity. 18F-FAZA is reduced under hypoxic conditions, forming highly reactive intermediates. In its reduced form, 18F-FAZA covalently binds to macromolecules, thereby accumulating in hypoxic cells (e.g. malignant tumors) and allowing radioisotopic imaging of these particular cells with positron emission tomography (PET). (18)F-FAZA shows superior biokinetics and is, thus, a promising PET tracer for the visualization of tumor hypoxia. Clinical evaluation of 18F-FAZA is currently ongoing, and early results have been reported for head and neck, lung, prostate, and rectal cancers.

D-Methyldopa is an inactive isomer of methyldopa. It is known, that only L-isomer has the ability to inhibit dopa decarboxylase and possesses the antihypertensive activity in man. Moreover, about twice the dose of the racemate (DL-form of methyldopa) is required for the equal antihypertensive effect.

(R)-Mequitazine or V0162 (10-[(3R)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-ylmethyl]-10H-phenothiazine) is an anticholinergic enantiomer of mequitazine, an existing oral racemic antihistamine commercialized for over 30 years. (R)-Mequitazine was found to be an antagonist at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors behaving as an inverse agonist. (R)-Mequitazine was investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and urinary incontinence.

Cinobufotalin, the bufadienolide isolated from toad venom, has displayed antitumor activities in many in vitro systems. It has been shown that cinobufotalin induced significant apoptosis in cultured human lymphoma U-937 cells. It induced DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in U-937 cells. Cinobufotalin induces cytotoxic effect in cultured lung cancer cells. Cinobufotalin (1/5 mg/kg, i.p. twice daily, for 7 days) significantly inhibited A549 xenograft growth in mice. Further, same cinobufotalin administration improved mice survival at week five. Cinobufotalin administration didn’t significantly affect mice body weight, indicating the relative safety of this regimen. Thus, cinobufotalin inhibits A549 xenograft growth in vivo and improves mice survival.

4‐Chlorokynurenine (AV-101) is a neuropharmaceutical drug candidate in development for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Pharmacology studies conducted in rodent models have demonstrated AV-101’s antihyperalgesic activity in models of facilitated pain processing was seen at serum concentrations ranging from 150–300 M. In addition, AV-101 has been shown to be neuroprotective activity against an intrahippocampal injection of quinolinic acid, reductions in seizures, and antidepressive activity. An oral prodrug, AV-101, which, in the brain, is converted into one of the most potent and selective GlyB site antagonists of the NMDAR, has been demonstrated to be active in animal models of neuropathic pain. The two Phase 1 studies were designed to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of AV-101, over a wide dose range, after daily dosing for 14-days. AV-101 has excellent safety and PK characteristics providing support for advancing AV-101 into Phase 2 studies in neuropathic pain.

Solasodine is an aglycone of solamargine and solasonine, which are the major solasodine glycosides present in numerous species of the solanaceae family including potato, tomato or garden egg plant etc. In Phase II clinical trial was shown that solasodine glycosides exhibit anticancer activity against skin cancer. The effects of aglycone solasodine on cancer cells have also been investigated. Solasodine inhibits the growth of human colon and liver cancer cell. In addition, solasodine effectively inhibits proliferation of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells and inhibits invasion of human lung cancer cells. Solasodine possesses CNS activities such as antipyretic, anticonvulsant and memory enhancing effects. Also, solasodine has been found to possess diuretic, antifungal, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-spermatogenetic and antiandrogenic effects.

Vilaprisan, a small molecule progesterone receptor antagonist is being developed by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals (formerly Bayer Schering Pharma) for the treatment of endometriosis and uterine leiomyoma. Hormonal imbalance observed in women with endometriosis is a potential target for treating endometriosis. Vilaprisan is a highly selective steroidal progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM). It is a partial agonist of progesterone receptor, which means that the drug activates progesterone receptors to a certain degree upon binding. This triggers a cascade of biochemical reactions that result in the suppression of prostaglandin production. This, in turn, relieves symptoms such as pain and bleeding. Modulating progesterone by taking vilaprisan might help in treating endometriosis over the long term. Phase I and II studies give encouraging results on the efficacy of vilaprisan at different doses. Like other SPRMs, vilaprisan induces benign changes of endometrium (PR modulator-associated endometrial changes, PAECs). These disappear as treatment is discontinued. Unlike GnRHa treatment, neither UPA nor vilaprisan induce hypoestrogenism and associated symptoms. Phase III studies are ongoing to confirm efficacy and safety of vilaprisan in long-term treatment of symptomatic fibroids.