Trabectedin (ET-743) is a marine alkaloid isolated from the Caribbean tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata. Trabectedin was approved for the treatment of liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma (USA and Europe) and ovarian cancer (only in Europe). Trabectedin exerts its anti-cancer action by binding guanine residues in the minor groove of DNA. The binding prevents DNA from interacting with transcription factors and the reparation system and results in perturbation of the cell cycle and eventual cell death.

AT-406 (DEBIO-1143, SM-406), is a potent and orally bioavailable Smac mimetic and an antagonist of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). AT-406 inhibits cancer cell growth in various human cancer cell lines. It has good oral bioavailability in mice, rats, non-human primates, and dogs, is highly effective in induction of apoptosis in xenograft tumors, and is capable of complete inhibition of tumor growth. Debiopharm under a licence from Ascenta Therapeutics is developing AT-406 for the treatment of cancers.

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.

Imexon (INN, trade name Amplimexon) is a substance that is being studied in the treatment of some types of cancer, including pancreatic, lung, breast, prostate, melanoma, and multiple myeloma. Imexon is a thiol-binding small molecule which induces mitochondrial oxidation, a loss of membrane potential and cytochrome C, leading to apoptosis.

Cediranib (AZD-2171) is a VEGFR-2 kinase inhibitor which was developed by AstraZeneca for the treatment of cancer. The drug reached the final stage of approval by European Medicines Agency in 2008 under the name Zemfirza (it was recommended to be taken in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy), however on 19 September 2016 AstraZeneca decided to withdraw the Marketing Authorisation Application.