Naturally-Derived Compounds Have Anti-Cancer Properties that Could Help Millions

January 25, 2021 - By: Baystreet Staff


Naturally derived compounds may be useful the treatment of cancer, neurological, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. One of those is Cepharanthine (CEP), which according to Phytomedicine is a drug that’s been used in Japan since the 1950s to treat acute and chronic diseases. “It is the only approved drug for Human use in the large class of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. This natural product, mainly isolated from the plant Stephania cephalantha Hayata, exhibits multiple pharmacological properties including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties.” There’s hope it can assist with the treatment of esophageal cancer, for example. On recent acquisition news, this could be beneficial for PharmaDrug Inc. (CSE:BUZZ)(OTC:LMLLF).

Exciting catalysts are nothing new to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. In fact, other related companies thriving on strong developments include Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA), Mind Medicine Inc. (NEO:MMED)(OTC:MMEDF), and Revive Therapeutics Ltd. (CSE:RVV)(OTC:RVVTF).

PharmaDrug Inc. (CSE:BUZZ)(OTC:LMLLF) BREAKING NEWSPharmaDrug Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of controlled-substances and natural medicines such as psychedelics, cannabis and naturally-derived approved drugs, today announced that it has entered into the definitive agreement in respect of the previously announced (see press release dated January 12, 2021) proposed acquisition of Sairiyo Therapeutics Inc. on January 12, 2021. Management of the Company believe that the proposed acquisition will strengthen PharmaDrug's product pipeline, intellectual property portfolio and pharmaceutical development expertise.

Sairiyo is a biotechnology company focused on repurposing and developing improved formulations of naturally derived compounds for serious, rare, and life-threatening diseases with the aim to obtain European Medicines Evaluation Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Sairiyo is advancing the clinical development of its lead drug candidate, Cepharanthine, a repurposed and reformulated naturally-derived compound for the potential treatment of cancer, neurological, inflammatory and infectious diseases. Research and development efforts will be led by Dr. Paul Van Slyke. Dr. Van Slyke is a biotechnology entrepreneur, scientist, and serial inventor. A previous biotech co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Van Slyke brings to Sairiyo a breadth of experience in preclinical and IND-enabling activities. Paul’s previous research interests, complementary to those of Sairiyo, span a number of indications including acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute kidney injury, vascular inflammatory disease, sepsis and oncology. More information about Sairiyo is available on the company’s website which is located at www.sairiyothera.com.

Cepharanthine is a natural product and an approved drug used for more than 70 years in Japan to treat a variety of acute and chronic diseases. In clinical research, Cepharanthine exhibits multiple pharmacological properties including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties. Sairiyo has an exclusive license from a research and development organization to develop and commercialize reformulated Cepharanthine for all diseases and exclusive rights to the patent, method of manufacturing, clinical supply, pre-clinical data and know-how to support FDA clinical trials.

Sairiyo is currently focused on advancing the clinical development of Cepharanthine to treat rare cancer diseases. Sairiyo recently received FDA orphan drug designation for Cepharanthine in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

The global esophageal cancer drugs market is estimated to grow by USD $1.5 billion during 2019-2023 (Technavio 2019). According to the World Health Organization, esophageal cancer is currently the sixth most common cause of cancer death in the world and is estimated to have caused over 508,000 deaths in 2018. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be approximately 18,000 new cases diagnosed in 2021 and approximately 16,000 deaths with an estimated 20% survival rate at least five years after a diagnosis.

Sairiyo is preparing its pre-Investigational New Drug meeting request and pre-IND briefing documents for submission to the FDA to support the clinical development of Cepharanthine in certain cancers and infectious diseases. Sairiyo will also support PharmaDrug’s initiatives of evaluating novel uses of psychedelic and cannabinoid compounds and delivery systems.

Daniel Cohen, Chairman and CEO of PharmaDrug commented, “PharmaDrug is extremely excited to work with the Sairiyo team upon the closing of the acquisition on several fronts. Firstly, to prepare for the upcoming FDA pre-IND meeting request and secondly to explore other opportunities for Cepharanthine and its immense potential across various rare and life-threatening diseases. The Company also plans to use Sairiyo’s clinical research capabilities to potentially launch clinical studies in the pharmaceutical psychedelic space”.

Under the terms of the agreement, PharmaDrug proposes to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Sairiyo in consideration for the issuance of an aggregate of 75,000,000 units of PharmaDrug. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of PharmaDrug and one common share purchase warrant of PharmaDrug. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share in the capital of PharmaDrug at any time on or before the 18 month anniversary of the issuance of the Warrants at an exercise price of $0.10 per share. Following completion of the transaction Sairiyo will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including completion of due diligence, negotiation of definitive agreements and receipt of all necessary approvals. If such conditions are not satisfied it is possible that the proposed transaction will not be completed on the terms set forth herein or at all. The parties anticipate that the transaction will be completed in by the end of January 2021.

Other related developments from around the markets include:

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech SE announced an advance purchase agreement with COVAX for up to 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech CV Vaccine. The doses will be delivered throughout 2021. COVAX is a global initiative coordinated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO), to ensure equitable access to CV vaccines for all countries, regardless of income levels. COVAX includes an Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) financial mechanism that aims to ensure that 92 low- and lower-middle-income countries will be able to secure access to CV vaccines at the same time as higher-income countries.

Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, announced that José M. Vega, M.D. joined Moderna as Chief Safety Officer effective Monday, January 11, 2021. Dr. Vegawill report to Chief Medical Officer Tal Zaks, M.D., Ph.D. “José brings a strategic level of leadership and deep experience in drug development and pharmacovigilance in global biopharmaceutical companies including Merck and Amgen,” said Dr. Zaks. “I am thrilled to welcome José to the Moderna team as we enter the next phase of growth of our company.”

Mind Medicine Inc. (NEO:MMED)(OTC:MMEDF), a leading psychedelic medicine biotech company, announced the start of the first ever clinical trial measuring and evaluating MDMA and LSD used in combination in the human body. The trial will be conducted at the University Hospital Basel Liechti Lab, in Basel, Switzerland. If administered in combination with LSD, MDMA may increase positive subjective drug effects, including positive mood and empathy, and reduce the negative emotions and anxiety that are sometimes associated with LSD – producing an overall more positive experience.

Revive Therapeutics Ltd. (CSE:RVV)(OTC:RVVTF), a specialty life sciences company focused on the research and development of therapeutics for medical needs and rare disorders, is pleased to announce that it is one of the seventeen companies in the U.S. and Canada that will be included in the First Psychedelics Exchange Traded Fund, which is managed by Horizons ETF Management. The Horizons Psychedelic Stock Index ETF index is expected to start trading on Tuesday, January 26, under the ticker PSYK on the NEO exchange.

Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. PharmaDrug Inc. has paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services to be distributed by Winning Media. Winning Media is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Winning Media owns ZERO shares of PharmaDrug Inc. Please click here for full disclaimer.

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