Glufosamide (glucosylifosfamide mustars) consists of iphosphoramide mustard conjugated to glucose, and is an alkylating agent (affecting the ability of the cancer cell to multiply by causing breakage of the DNA strands). Glufosamide is considered a targeted chemotherapy with fewer side effects than alternative chemotherapies. Its specific mode of action on normal and pathological cells is still under investigation. Glufosamide was studied for use in several cancers, like pancreatic and prostate cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Multipe clinical trials have been completed or are still ongoing. Most promising results were found when glufosamide was used in combination treatments, rather than alone.

Palifosfamide or ZIO-201 (isophosphoramide mustard; IPM), a bi-functional DNA alkylator, is the active metabolite of ifosfamide (IFOS). IFOS and the related drug cyclophosphamide (CPA) are widely used anti-cancer drugs. Both are pro-drugs and need to be metabolized to be active. Their clinical use is limited by the toxicity associated with some of their metabolites. Palifosfamide has shown efficacy in diverse cancer models. ZIOPHARM Oncology Inc, under license from Dekk-Tec Inc, was developing palifosfamide, a formulation of isophosphoramide mustard with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salt-stabilization (palifosfamide-tris) and previously with lysine-stabilization (palifosfamide-lys). Preclinical studies and phase I and I/II clinical trials demonstrated that palifosfamide-tris had an antitumor efficiency comparable or superior to that of ifosfamide. To date ZIO-201 is not present in ZIOPHARM pipeline.