Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. (TPEx: 6492), a drug development company, announced on Wednesday that it has dosed its first subject in its phase II study of Silmitasertib (CX-4945) in subjects with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) associated with viral infection in Taiwan.

The trial is to assess if early medical intervention of Silmitasertib restrains the advancement of CAP by inhibiting the elevated cytokine release related with SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses.

This phase II trial is headed by an inter-hospital team specialising in infectious diseases, with experience in conducting large-scale international clinical trials for various anti-viral new drugs. The study team includes five hospitals including National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Tri-Service General Hospital and Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The product is a first-in-class small molecule drug that is aimed at the CK2 protein and acts as a CK2 inhibitor.