Senhwa Biosciences has dosed the first subject in a Phase II clinical trial of its investigational drug, Silmitasertib (CX-4945), in adult Covid-19 patients admitted to the hospital.
The trial is progressing in National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Taiwan.
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In April this year, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for launching the Phase II trial of Silmitasertib.
Through this Phase II proof of concept trial, the company plans to validate Silmitasertib as a treatment approach effective for various immune diseases.
Silmitasertib acts on host cell CK2 protein and could be effective against the variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as others, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
It was earlier analysed in two investigator-initiated trials (IIT) in the US.
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By GlobalDataStudy data showed that Silmitasertib offered clinical benefits by expediting recovery speed in mildly, moderately or severely symptomatic Covid-19 patients.
Apart from the Covid-19 trial, the company plans to analyse this therapy for other indications.
Last month, Senhwa filed an IND application with the US to analyse Silmitasertib to treat viral infection-caused community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a Phase II trial.
This randomised, controlled, interventional, multicentre trial is designed to analyse if early intervention with the drug could hinder CAP progression.
Increased release of cytokines is linked to infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses.
