PX-102 is a methoxyphenylcyclopropane derivative patented by Phenex Pharmaceuticals AG as Farnesoid X receptor agonists useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of FXR-mediated diseases. The Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) is a bile acid receptor which when activated by Px-102 has a profound positive impact on cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose metabolism in liver and intestine. In preclinical studies, Px-102 potently reduces intestinal uptake of neutral lipids and cholesterol and at the same time enhances the excretion of these lipid species. In addition, Px-102 improves hepatic insulin sensitivity and shows massive hepatoprotective effects in animal models of liver cirrhosis or fibrosis. Phenex Pharmaceuticals completes a phase I trial in Healthy volunteers in Germany in 2012 and no further development report has been published.

KH-176 is a drug candidate developed by pharmaceutical company Khondrion to treat a range of mitochondrial diseases including MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) spectrum disorders. KH176 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation for MELAS spectrum disorders and Leigh disease in Europe and for all inherited mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders in the USA. KH176 acts as a potent intracellular redox-modulating agent essential for the control of oxidative and redox pathologies.

Vaccenic acid (VA) (t11 octadecenoic acid) is a positional and geometric isomer of oleic acid (c9-octadecenoic acid), and is the predominant trans monoene in ruminant fats (50%–80% of total trans content). Dietary VA can be desaturated to cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-CLA) in ruminants, rodents, and humans. Hydrogenated plant oils are another source of VA in the diet, and it has been recently estimated that this source may contribute to about 13%–17% of total VA intake. In contrast to suggestions from the epidemiological studies, the majority of studies using cancer cell lines (Awad et al. 1995; Miller et al. 2003) or rodent tumors (Banni et al. 2001; Corl et al. 2003; Ip et al. 1999; Sauer et al. 2004) have demonstrated that VA reduces cell growth and (or) tumor metabolism. Animal and in vitro studies suggest that the anti-cancer properties of VA are due, in part, to the in vivo conversion of VA to c9,t11-CLA. However, several additional mechanisms for the anti-cancer effects of VA have been proposed, including changes in phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis, reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and inhibition of fatty acid uptake. In conclusion, although the epidemiological evidence of VA intake and cancer risk suggests a positive relationship, this is not supported by the few animal studies that have been performed. The majority of the studies suggest that any health benefit of VA may be conferred by in vivo mammalian conversion of VA to c9,t11-CLA. VA acts as a partial agonist to both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR)-α and PPAR-γ in vitro, with similar affinity compared to commonly known PPAR agonists. Hypolipidemic and antihypertrophic bioactivity of VA is potentially mediated via PPAR-/-dependent pathways.

PF-2545920 is an orally-active phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitor originated by Pfizer, for the treatment of Huntington's disease. PF-2545920 was originally developed by Pfizer for the treatment of schizophrenia. But later clinical studies for Schizophrenia were discontinued. PF-2545920 is a potent and selective PDE10A inhibitor with IC50 of 0.37 nM, with >1000-fold selectivity over the PDE. PF-2545920 is active in a range of antipsychotic models, antagonizing apomorphine-induced climbing in mice, inhibiting conditioned avoidance responding in both rats and mice, and blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist-induced deficits in prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle response in rats, while improving baseline sensory gating in mice.