Pracinostat is a pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor being tested in phase II of clinical trials for the treatment of sarcoma, prostate cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, myelofibrosis, myelodysplastic syndrome. The drug was shown to be active in vitro on HCT116 and HL-60 cells.

Anatibant was a selective small-molecule antagonist of the bradykinin B2 receptor that was undergoing clinical development with Xytis and Fournier for the treatment of brain injuries. Anatibant reduces brain oedema in animal TBI models. Noserious toxicity was found in Phase 1 clinical trials. Following subcutaneous administration of clinically relevant doses, there were no systemic effects but there was pain, inflammation and nodule formation at the injection site. Anatibant inhibits the binding of BK to the B2 receptor. After subcutaneous injection Anatibant is bio-available and crosses the BBB.

Metenkephalin (Met-enkephalin) is an endogenous opioid peptide that acts as an agonist at μ-opioid receptors (μORs) and δ-opioid receptors (δORs). Met-enkephalin exhibits neuromodulatory, antinociceptive/analgesic, antidepressant, and gastrointestinal motility modulating activities. Like other endogenous opioids, met-enkephalin modulates expression of opioid receptors and plays a role in reward/reinforcement signaling. Met-enkephalin is also involved in exercise-induced reversal of neuropathic pain and in animals undergoing the forced swim test, decreases immobility time. Met-enkephalin inhibits gastrointestinal muscle contractility, inhibiting motility and gastric emptying. Additionally, analogs of this peptide display anticancer and antiepileptic/anticonvulsant activities.

Veliparib (ABT-888) is a potent inhibitor of PARP, has good oral bioavailability, can cross the blood-brain barrier, and potentiates temozolomide, platinums, cyclophosphamide, and radiation in syngeneic and xenograft tumor models. AbbVie is developing veliparib for the treatment of cancers. Clinical trials are underway worldwide, investigating veliparib primarily as part of a combination therapy in oncology indications such as brain, colorectal, melanoma, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers.

Levcycloserine is a general inhibitor of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes. It is an excellent inhibitor of threonine deaminase and serine palmitoyltransferase. Levcycloserine is a ceramide synthesis inhibitor. Levcycloserine is a selective antitumoral agent for neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma cells with the ability to reduce expression of tumour associated gangliosides. In vivo experiments suggest that levcycloserine may be effective drug for treatment of neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. Levcycloserine interferes with the life cycle of HIV. Levcycloserine selectively down-modulated CD4 expression without affecting the expression of CD3 and CD8. Levcycloserine also inhibited T cell mitogen responses without affecting IL-2 production. Selective inhibition of CD4 by levcycloserine together with its antiviral effects may offer a novel approach for interfering with HIV cell binding and infectivity.

Bafetinib (NS-187, INNO-406) is a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor in development by CytRx under license from Nippon Shinyaku for treating Bcr-Abl+ leukemia's, including chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is a rationally developed tyrosine kinase inhibitor based on the chemical structure of imatinib, with modifications added to improve binding and potency against Bcr-Abl kinase. Besides Abl, bafetinib targets the Src family kinase Lyn, which has been associated with resistance to imatinib in CML. In preclinical studies, bafetinib was 25- to 55-fold more potent than imatinib in vitro and ≥ 10-fold more potent in vivo. Bafetinibinhibits 12 of the 13 most frequent imatinib-resistant Bcr-Abl point mutations, but not a Thr315Ile mutation. A small fraction of bafetinib crosses the blood-brain barrier, reaching brain concentrations adequate for suppression of Bcr-Abl+ cells. Data from a phase I clinical trial conducted in patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant CML have confirmed that bafetinib has clinical activity in this setting, inducing a major cytogenetic response in 19% of those patients in chronic phase. Currently, bafetinib is being developed in two phase II clinical trials for patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and prostate cancer, and a trial is in progress for patients with brain tumors. In 2005, the compound was licensed to Innovive Pharmaceuticals (acquired by CytRx Oncology in 2008) by Nippon Shinyaku on a worldwide basis, with the exception of Japan, for the treatment of CML. Orphan drug designation was assigned to the compound for the treatment of CML in the U.S in 2007 and in the E.U. in 2010. Bafetinib is in phase II for the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Ombrabulin is an experimental drug candidate discovered by Ajinomoto and further developed by Sanofi-Aventis for cancer treatment. Ombrabulin is a synthetic water-soluble analog of combretastatin A4, derived from the South African willow bush (Combretum caffrum), with potential vascular-disrupting and antineoplastic activities. Ombrabulin binds to the colchicine binding site of endothelial cell tubulin, inhibiting tubulin polymerization and inducing mitotic arrest and apoptosis in endothelial cells. As apoptotic endothelial cells detach from their substrate, tumor blood vessels collapse; the acute disruption of tumor blood flow may result in tumor necrosis. Ombrabulin has been used in trials studying the treatment of Sarcoma, Neoplasms, Solid Tumor, Neoplasms, Malignant, and Advanced Solid Tumors, among others. In January 2013, Sanofi said it discontinued development of Ombrabulin after disappointing results from phase III clinical trials.

Talarozole (formerly R115866) is a new highly potent and selective azole derivative, which inhibits cytochrome-P450-dependent all-trans-retinoic acid catabolism by blocking the cytochrome P450 enzyme isoform CYP26, a retinoic acid hydroxylase. It is in clinical development for the treatment of psoriasis and acne. However, no local pharmacokinetic data on the diffusion behaviour of talarozole in the skin itself are available. As topical application might be an interesting alternative to oral therapy because of the reduced systemic side effects. The distribution of talarozole within the skin was investigated: 80% was located in the epidermis, while the remaining 20% was found in the dermis. The epidermal concentration of talarozole achieved after a single topical application was sufficiently high to enable the potential induction of local retinoid-like effects.