Sunshine Biopharma Inc, a pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of oncology and antiviral drugs, announced that it has successfully completed a Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) study in mice. MTD results are favorable and fall within the optimum range for use in humans. Next, Sunshine Biopharma will use the test dose indicated by these results to conduct the efficacy studies in hACE2-transgenic mice.
Sunshine Biopharma’s COVID-19 treatment is an inhibitor of PLpro, a protease present only in the SARS Coronaviruses (Betacoronaviruses) and is an important antiviral target as it is involved in shutting down the host innate immune system thereby causing significantly greater morbidity.
“MTD is defined as the highest dose of a drug that does not cause unacceptable side effects or overt toxicity in a specific period of time. The MTD studies we conducted were designed with a minimum number of animals and included endpoints such as clinical observations and blood tests for liver function,” said Dr. Steve Slilaty, CEO of Sunshine Biopharma. “We are delighted that our compounds passed this critical toxicology step with flying colors,” he added.
