Deuterium Oxide (heavy water) is a stable, non-radioactive isotopic form of water. The heavy water is used as a moderator of neutrons in nuclear power plants. In the laboratory, heavy water is employed as an isotopic tracer in studies of chemical and biochemical processes. Deuterium oxide acts as a true temperature-modifying agent. It protects mammalian cells against hyperthermic damage. Plant cell biologists had made a similar observation. Regarding human health, deuterium oxide has a wide range of proposed applications, such as therapeutic agent against human pancreatic cancer, determination of total body water (TBW), and enhancement of thermal stability of macromolecules, cells and tissue. Other applications are: treatment of hypertension, treatment of virus-based diseases of the respiratory tract and treatment of herpes virus-based diseases of the skin.

Ataluren (Translarna) is a small-molecule drug approved in Europe for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy caused by a nonsense mutation. Ataluren interacts with the ribosome enabling it to read through premature nonsense stop signals on mRNA and allowing the cell to produce a full-length, functional protein. Ataluren is also being tested in phase III for cystic fibrosis caused by a nonsense mutation.

Piperaquine is a bisquinoline antimalarial drug that was first synthesized in the 1960s and used extensively in China and Indochina as prophylaxis and treatment during the next 20 years. Usage declined in the 1980s as piperaquine-resistant strains of P. falciparum arose and artemisinin-based antimalarials became available. However, during the next decade, piperaquine was rediscovered by Chinese scientists as one of a number of compounds suitable for combination with an artemisinin derivative. The rationale for such artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) was to provide an inexpensive, short-course treatment regimen with a high cure rate and good tolerability that would reduce transmission and protect against the development of parasite resistance. Piperaquine is characterized by slow absorption and a long biological half-life, making it a good partner drug with artemisinin derivatives which are fast acting but have a short biological half-life.

Terguride (INN), also known as trans-dihydrolisuride, is a serotonin receptor antagonist and dopamine receptor agonist of the ergoline family. Terguride is approved for and used in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia. Terguride is an oral, potent antagonist of 5-HT2B and 5-HT2A (serotonin) receptors. Serotonin stimulates the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and induces fibrosis in the wall of pulmonary arteries. Together, this causes vascular remodeling and narrowing of the pulmonary arteries. These changes result in increased vascular resistance and PAH. Due to the potential anti-proliferative and anti-fibrotic activity of terguride, this potential medicine could offer the hope of achieving reversal of pulmonary artery vascular remodeling and attenuation of disease progression. In May 2008, terguride was granted orphan drug status for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. In May 2010 Pfizer purchased worldwide rights for the drug.

Naproxcinod is the first in the class of CINODs and has been evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. It is metabolized to naproxen and has been shown to donate nitric oxide in vitro and in vivo. It stimulated the expression of heme oxygenase-mRNA in endothelial cells in vitro, a crucial mediator of antioxidant and tissue-protective actions. In preclinical studies, Naproxcinod has been shown to be analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Naproxcinod dose-dependently displayed a noticeable and significant anti-ischemic effect in reperfused ischemic rabbit hearts and did not exhibit the hypertensive effects of naproxen. In a proof of concept study in 31 healthy volunteers with GI tolerance as the primary endpoint, Naproxcinod caused fewer gastric erosions in both the stomach and the duodenum than naproxen, while 0.2 erosions were found with placebo. Naproxcinod caused less of an adverse effect in intestinal permeability than naproxen and was similar to placebo.