PharmaDrug's Sairiyo Therapuetics Announces Independent Screening Identifying Cepharanthine's Potential to Bind to Monkeypox (Mpox) Proteins

Rhea-AI Summary

PharmaDrug Inc. (CSE: PHRX) (OTC Pink: LMLLF) has announced that an independent screening has identified cepharanthine's potential to bind to monkeypox (Mpox) proteins. The study, published in the Journal of Infection, showed that cepharanthine displayed significant binding affinities to all ten target proteins of Mpox, with high affinities to four specific proteins.

Sairiyo Therapeutics Inc., 51% owned by PharmaDrug, is developing a patented reformulated version of oral cepharanthine (PD-001) for potential treatment of Medical Countermeasures and cancer. The company has received approval to initiate a Phase 1 clinical study in Australia. PD-001 was previously awarded a $3.4 million contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for the Ebola virus.

Positive

• Independent screening identifies cepharanthine's potential to bind to all ten target proteins of Mpox
• Approval received for Phase 1 clinical study of PD-001 in Australia
• PD-001 previously awarded $3.4 million contract from DTRA for Ebola virus research

Negative

• No peer-reviewed studies on cepharanthine's effectiveness against Mpox
• Company explicitly states no claims of ability to treat, eliminate or cure Mpox at this time

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 21, 2024) - PharmaDrug Inc. (CSE: PHRX) (OTC Pink: LMLLF) ("PharmaDrug" or the "Company"), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of controlled-substances and natural medicines such as psychedelics and previously approved drugs, is pleased to announce that an independent screening of drugs for monkeypox ("Mpox") highlighted cepharanthine's potential to bind to the virus's protein. The letter to the editor titled, "Highly accurate protein structure prediction and drug screen of monkeypox virus proteome," is non peer reviewed and published in Journal of Infection and can be found here.

Sairiyo Therapeutics Inc. ("Sairiyo"), a company that is fifty-one percent (51%) owned by PharmaDrug and fourty-nine percent (49%) owned by PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (CSE: PHRM) (OTCQB: PHRRF) ("PharmaTher"), is focused on the clinical development of a patented reformulated version of oral cepharanthine ("PD-001") as a potential treatment for Medical Countermeasures and cancer.

Understanding of Mpox (monkeypox) proteins key to the function of the virus is limited. Identification of potential drugs/molecules that interact with Mpox proteins may help with treatment of Mpox virus infection. In a study by Yang et al (2023), 10 target proteins from the Mpox virus were selected due to their potential to be involved in essential functions and their potential to interact with other molecules. In the analysis aimed at screening drugs for Mpox, cepharanthine displayed significant binding affinities to all ten target proteins of Mpox. More specifically, cepharanthine showed high binding affinities to 4 of the predicted Mpox proteins (I1L, VITF3L, A42R, and E8L).¹ This predicted interaction may help enhance understanding of key mechanisms of viral entry and replication for potential treatments, such as cepharanthine, of Mpox infection.

Robert Steen, CEO of PharmaDrug commented, "We are of the opinion that the last several years has shown us that the world needs more anti-viral medications in its therapeutic arsenal. We believe that PD-001, with its patented enhanced cepharanthine bioavailability, can potentially serve as a multi-indication anti-viral. We look forward to further explore cepharanthine's therapeutic prospects for Mopx and other infectious diseases."

As announced in a press release dated August 19, 2024, Sairiyo has received approval by the Australian Human Research Ethics Committee to initiate a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical study (the "Study") investigating a patented reformulated enteric coated version of oral cepharanthine ("PD-001") as a potential treatment for Medical Countermeasures and cancer. PD-001 was previously awarded a $3.4 million contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for the Ebola virus.²

The Company would like to make it clear that is not making any express or implied claims that its product (cepharanthine) has the ability to treat, eliminate or cure Monkeypox (Mpox) and/or other infectious diseases at this time.

About PD-001 (Enteric-coated Oral Cepharanthine)

Cepharanthine is a natural product and an approved drug used for more than 70 years in Japan to successfully treat a variety of acute and chronic diseases. In clinical research, cepharanthine has been shown to exhibit multiple pharmacological properties including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-parasitic effects^3,4. However, historically cepharanthine's low oral bioavailability has represented a major obstacle to realizing its full clinical potential.

Compared to generic cepharanthine, PD-001 has been shown in rodent and non-rodent models to possess markedly improved oral bioavailability (more easily absorbed). These findings support the development of an orally administered formulation, and in so doing, removes the undesirable requirement for frequent intravenous dosing to maintain therapeutic levels of drug in circulation. Sairiyo endeavours to develop an efficacious oral therapeutic to potentially improve outcomes for infectious disease and oncology applications.

PD-001 is protected by US Patent US10576077, with a patent expiration date of March 23, 2036.

About PharmaDrug Inc.

PharmaDrug is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of controlled-substances and natural medicines such as psychedelics and previously approved drugs. PharmaDrug owns 51% of Sairiyo Therapeutics ("Sairiyo"), a biotech company that specializes in researching and reformulating established natural medicines with a goal of bringing them through clinical trials and the associated regulatory approval process in the US and Europe. Sairiyo is currently developing its patented reformulation of cepharanthine, a drug that has shown substantial third party validated potential for the treatment of infectious disease and rare cancers. Sairiyo is also conducting R&D in the psychedelics space for the treatment of non-neuropsychiatric conditions. PharmaDrug also owns 100% of SecureDose Synthetics Inc. ("SecureDose"), a pharmaceutical research and development company focused on the development of synthetic formulations of currently existing drugs for potential commercialization and distribution.

For further information, please contact:

Robert J. Steen, Chairman and CEO
rob@pharmadrug.ca
(416) 400-7086

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED NOR DOES IT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results of the Company. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to the potential for cepharanthine as a treatment for Mpox and the development of the Company's business. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; the actual results of the Company's future operations; competition; changes in legislation affecting the Company; the ability to obtain and maintain required permits and approvals, the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals..

A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in the Company's disclosure documents on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulations under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. However, the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

References:

1. Yang Q, Xia D, Syed AAS, Wang Z, Shi Y. Highly accurate protein structure prediction and drug screen of monkeypox virus proteome. J Infect. 2023 Jan;86(1):66-117. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.006. Epub 2022 Aug 11. PMID: 35964685; PMCID: PMC9367171.
2. https://www.swri.org/press-release/southwest-research-institute-texas-biomedical-research-institute-awarded-34-million.
3. Saito T, Hikita M, Kohno K, Tanimura H, Miyahara M, Kobayashi M. Enhanced expression of the multidrug resistance gene in vindesine-resistant human esophageal cancer cells. Oncology. 1994 Sep-Oct;51(5):440-5. doi: 10.1159/000227380. PMID: 8052486.
4. Zhou P, Zhang R, Wang Y, Xu D, Zhang L, Qin J, Su G, Feng Y, Chen H, You S, Rui W, Liu H, Chen S, Chen H, Wang Y. Cepharanthine hydrochloride reverses the mdr1 (P-glycoprotein)-mediated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell cisplatin resistance through JNK and p53 signals. Oncotarget. 2017 Nov 27;8(67):111144-111160. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.22676. Erratum in: Oncotarget. 2021 Jan 05;12(1):61-62. PMID: 29340044; PMCID: PMC5762312.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/220656

FAQ

What did the independent screening reveal about cepharanthine and Mpox proteins for LMLLF stock?

The screening showed that cepharanthine, developed by PharmaDrug (LMLLF), displayed significant binding affinities to all ten target proteins of Mpox, with high affinities to four specific proteins (I1L, VITF3L, A42R, and E8L).

What is the current development stage of PD-001 for PharmaDrug (LMLLF)?

PD-001, PharmaDrug's (LMLLF) patented reformulated version of oral cepharanthine, has received approval to initiate a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical study in Australia for potential treatment of Medical Countermeasures and cancer.

Has PharmaDrug (LMLLF) received any government funding for cepharanthine research?

Yes, PharmaDrug's (LMLLF) PD-001 was previously awarded a $3.4 million contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for research related to the Ebola virus.

Is PharmaDrug (LMLLF) claiming that cepharanthine can treat Mpox?

No, PharmaDrug (LMLLF) explicitly states that it is not making any express or implied claims that cepharanthine has the ability to treat, eliminate or cure Monkeypox (Mpox) or other infectious diseases at this time.