Tri-Service General Hospital

TAIPEI and SAN DIEGO, March 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. (TPEx: 6492), a drug development company focusing on first-in-class therapeutics for oncology, rare diseases, and infectious diseases, announced today that their first patient has been successfully dosed in the phase II study of Silmitasertib (CX-4945) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) associated with viral infection in Taiwan. This trial is to investigate whether early medical intervention of Silmitasertib restrains the progression of CAP by inhibiting the elevated cytokine release associated with SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses. This phase II trial is led by an inter-hospital team specializing in infectious diseases, with extensive experiences in carrying out large-scale international clinical trials for various anti-viral new drugs. The study team consists of five well-known hospitals including National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital and Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare. According to the latest warning issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the globe may face another wave of pandemic of Disease X, possibly caused by the evolution of influenza, novel coronavirus strains, or a new pathogen unknown to humans. In addition, the reported case of the first human infection with avian flu and subsequent death in mainland China earlier this year promoted the WHO to conduct a risk assessment for transmission. Silmitasertib (CX-4945) developed by Senhwa Biosciences possesses a novel mechanism that targets human host cells, making it less susceptible to the effects of viral mutations. The purpose of this trial is to give early medical intervention in the course of the disease with Silmitasertib (CX-4945) as to prevent the progression of CAP, to avoid hospitalization and enhance the subject's clinical condition, while reducing the risks associated with elevated cytokine release related to infections of new coronaviruses or influenza viruses. Furthermore, compared to Silmitasertib (CX-4945), the next-generation drug CX-8184 exhibits higher activity and better neutralizing and inhibiting abilities against viruses. It is currently being developed to be administered directly to the lungs, aiming to become a novel treatment with convenient usage and broad-spectrum antiviral potential, if successful. About Silmitasertib Silmitasertib is a first-in-class small molecule drug that targets the CK2 protein and acts as a CK2 inhibitor. Clinical studies thus far have shown Silmitasertib to be safe and well-tolerated in humans and is easily administered with its oral formulation. Silmitasertib is currently under development through several oncology programs in adults and children with recurrent/advanced or metastatic cancer. To date, three Phase I and one Phase I/II study of Silmitasertib in oncology, as well as two Phase II trials in infectious diseases, have been completed. The US FDA has granted Silmitasertib Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma in December 2016, Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of Medulloblastoma in July 2020 and December 2021, respectively. Fast Track Designation was granted in August 2021 for the treatment of recurrent Sonic Hedgehog driven Medulloblastoma. About Senhwa Biosciences Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. is a leading clinical-stage company focused on developing first-in-class, next-generation DNA Damage Response therapeutics and seeks to address unmet medical needs in oncology and infectious diseases. Headquartered in Taiwan, with an operational base in San Diego, California, Senhwa is well-positioned to oversee the development of its compounds. Silmitasertib (CX-4945) and Pidnarulex (CX-5461), both with novel mechanisms of action as anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of multiple indications, are the core products in Senhwa Bioscience's pipeline. Clinical trials are currently ongoing in Australia, Canada, United States and Taiwan. Visit Senhwa Biosciences' website for more details: SOURCE Senhwa Biosciences, Inc.

TAIPEI and SAN DIEGO, Dec. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. (TPEx: 6492), a drug development company focusing on first-in-class therapeutics for oncology, rare diseases, and infectious diseases, announced today that Taiwan Food and Drug Administration has approved its Phase II IND application of Silmitasertib (CX-4945) to treat patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by viral infection. The trial is a phase II multi-center, randomized-controlled interventional prospective study, and the purpose of this trial is to investigate whether early intervention of Silmitasertib restrains the progression of CAP by inhibiting the elevated cytokine release associated with SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses. This trial will be led by an inter-hospital team, which is specialized in infectious diseases and possesses extensive experiences in carrying out large-scale international clinical trials for various anti-viral new drugs, across five well-known hospitals including National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital and Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare. Silmitasertib works by inhibiting CK2 protein kinase, which have implicated in regulation of several signaling pathways that are important for innate immune responses. CK2 modulates inflammatory pathways, including NF-κB, PI3K–Akt–mTOR, and JAK–STAT. Inhibition of CK2 by Silmitasertib diminishes the secretion of IL-6 and MCP-1 (Rosenberger et al.). Silmitasertib treatment also reduces the expression of TNF-α and CCL4 in NiSO4-stimulated MoDCs (Bourayne et al.). "Senhwa regards this phase II as the proof-of-concept study to demonstrate Silmitasertib can be a therapeutic strategy that are not restricted to only a specific viral infection, but applicable to various viruses," said Jin-Ding Huang, CEO of Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. The global market for related therapeutic drugs has exceeded a value of over $120.6 billion USD in 2020 and it's projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.88% and reach more than $339 billion USD by 2030 according to market research. About Silmitasertib Silmitasertib is a first-in-class small molecule drug that targets the CK2 protein and acts as a CK2 inhibitor. Clinical studies thus far have shown Silmitasertib is safe and well-tolerated in humans and is easily administered with its oral formulation. Silmitasertib is currently under development through several oncology programs in adults and children with recurrent/advanced or metastatic cancer. To date, three Phase I trials and one Phase II trial of Silmitasertib in cancer patients have been completed while two other Phase I and II studies of Silmitasertib are still ongoing. The US FDA has granted Silmitasertib Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma in December 2016, Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of Medulloblastoma in July 2020 and December 2021, respectively. Fast Track Designation was granted in August 2021 for the treatment of recurrent Sonic Hedgehog driven Medulloblastoma. About Senhwa Biosciences Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. is a leading clinical-stage company focused on developing first-in-class, next-generation DNA Damage Response therapeutics and seeks to address unmet medical needs in oncology and infectious diseases. Headquartered in Taiwan, with an operational base in San Diego, California, Senhwa is well-positioned to oversee the development of its compounds. Silmitasertib (CX-4945) and Pidnarulex (CX-5461), both with novel mechanisms of action as anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of multiple indications, are the core products in Senhwa Bioscience's pipeline. Clinical trials are currently ongoing in Australia, Canada, United States and Taiwan. Visit Senhwa Biosciences' website for more details: SOURCE Senhwa Biosciences, Inc.

动脉粥样硬化是导致冠状动脉疾病的主要原因。动脉粥样硬化斑块的破裂或侵蚀，以及愈合能力受损，会导致急性冠状动脉综合征（ACS）患者发生血栓前事件。 动脉粥样硬化是导致冠状动脉疾病的主要原因。动脉粥样硬化斑块的破裂或侵蚀，以及愈合能力受损，会导致急性冠状动脉综合征（ACS）患者发生血栓前事件。急性冠脉综合征包括急性心肌梗死（AMI）和不稳定型心绞痛，是一种常见的心脏急症，会导致全球范围内的大量发病率和死亡率。然而，尽管有许多药物和治疗方法可以抑制动脉粥样硬化的进展，但治疗或改善动脉粥样硬化斑块脆弱性的有效药物尚未被探索。 图片来源：https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36942453/ 近日，来自三军总医院的研究者们在Br J Pharmacol.杂志上发表了题为“Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ improves the features of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability by regulating smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching”的文章，该研究结果表明血浆过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体δ（PPARδ）水平低可能与动脉粥样硬化斑块的脆弱性有关，该发现为PPARδ对SMC表型转换的保护作用和改善动脉粥样硬化斑块易损性的机制提供了新的见解。 血管平滑肌细胞（SMC）在持续炎症过程中发生表型转换，导致不利的动脉粥样硬化斑块表型。PPARδ在调节SMC功能中起重要作用；然而，它在动脉粥样硬化斑块脆弱性中的作用尚不清楚。 该研究测定了急性冠状动脉综合征（ACS）和稳定型心绞痛（SA）患者的血浆PPARδ水平。在喂食高胆固醇饮食（HCD）并使用或不使用PPARδ激动剂GW501516治疗的载脂蛋白E敲除小鼠的头臂动脉中，分析了SMC收缩和合成表型标志物、内质网（ER）应激以及动脉粥样硬化斑块易损性的特征。在体外，使用人主动脉平滑肌细胞（HASMC）阐明了PPARδ的作用。 ACS患者的血浆PPARδ水平显著低于SA患者。GW501516降低了HCD喂养的ApoE敲除小鼠的动脉粥样硬化斑块易损性、合成SMC表型、ER应激标志物和NLRP3炎症小体表达。内质网应激抑制HASMC中PPARδ的表达。PPARδ激活抑制了内质网应激诱导的合成表型发展、内质网应激-NLRP3炎症小体轴激活和基质金属蛋白酶2（MMP2）在HASMC中的表达。PPARδ抑制NFκB信号通路，缓解内质网应激诱导的SMC表型切换。 PPARδ改善动脉粥样硬化斑块易损性的机制图。 图片来源：https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36942453/ 综上所述，本研究证实了PPARδ在调节SMC表型切换和改善晚期动脉粥样硬化斑块易损方面的保护作用，还证实了ACS患者冠状动脉内和外周血中PPARδ水平的降低，表明PPARδ在动脉粥样硬化斑块演变中具有保护作用。这一新发现提供了一个理论基础，即循环PPARd水平可能作为潜在的生物标志物，以识别患有动脉粥样硬化疾病相关心血管事件的患者，以及预防动脉粥样硬化斑块易损的潜在策略的理论基础。（生物谷 Bioon.com） 参考文献 Chih-Feng Lien et al. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ improves the features of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability by regulating smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching. Br J Pharmacol. 2023 Mar 21. doi: 10.1111/bph.16074.