- PharmaDrug (PHRX) has completed a preclinical study on the effectiveness of the drug cepharanthine-2HCl
- The study indicated that cepharanthine has potential both as a standalone treatment and in combination with chemotherapy
- So far, esophageal cancer was up to two times more responsive to treatment with cepharanthine
- PharmaDrug is a specialty pharmaceutical company
- PharmaDrug Inc. (PHRX) is up 28.57 per cent, trading at $0.045 per share
PharmaDrug (PHRX) has completed a preclinical study on the effectiveness of the drug cepharanthine-2HCl.
The study indicated that cepharanthine has potential both as a standalone treatment and in combination with chemotherapy.
In an earlier in vitro cancer screen, PharmaDrug identified a shortlist of 23 cancers that were highly responsive to cepharanthine. The list was then sent to an independent research organization for evaluation and PharmaDrug has now received the results of 17 of the 23 cell lines that were evaluated.
Of those results, over 80 per cent of those short-listed cancers were confirmed to be responsive to cepharanthine at or below levels that are tolerated for humans.
Daniel Cohen, CEO of PharmaDrug, commented,
“We are extremely excited about the research results and the potential of cepharanthine to treat various cancers as it allows us to confidently advance our pipeline-in-a-pill strategy for not only infectious diseases, but now also oncology.”
So far, esophageal cancer was the most sensitive, up to two times more responsive to treatment with cepharanthine.
“As such,” remarked Mr. Cohen, “the primary focus in our oncology program will continue to be esophageal cancer, for which we have already received FDA orphan drug designation.”
Cepharanthine has been shown in multiple preclinical efficacy models to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce cancer cell apoptosis (death) and restore cancer cell sensitivity to multiple unrelated classes of chemotherapy.
In addition, cepharanthine has been shown in preclinical studies to potentially reverse chemoresistance. Of the 17 cancer cell lines tested to date, four instances of drug synergy between cepharanthine and chemotherapy were revealed.
“Encouraged by these recent findings,” Mr. Cohen concluded, “IND-enabling animal efficacy studies to support future human clinical studies in oncology will commence in November.”
PharmaDrug is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of controlled substances and natural medicines such as psychedelics, cannabis and naturally-derived approved drugs.
PharmaDrug Inc. (PHRX) is up 28.57 per cent, trading at $0.045 per share as of 10:00 am ET.
