Sanhwa Biosciences Silmitasertib Study Proceeding

Senhwa Biosciences says its clinical partner, Center for Advanced Research and Education in Gainesville, GA, has received a study-may-proceed letter from FDA to begin a Phase 2 trial evaluating silmitasertib, a novel orally available casein kinase 2 inhibitor for treating moderate Covid-19 patients. “The Covid-19 clinical trial is part of a broad systemic disease strategy designed to demonstrate silmitasertib proof of concept in serious inflammatory diseases with a critical medical need,” the company says. Silmitasertib is an oral drug designed to challenge both the virus’ ability to replicate quickly and spread to nearby healthy cells and the body’s uncontrolled inflammatory response to Covid-19 infection. “Because Silmitasertib targets the host protein kinase CK2 (casein kinase 2) pathway, virus mutations are unlikely to affect either silmitasertib anti-viral or anti-inflammatory efficacy,” Senhwa says.