Sunshine Biopharma Unveils New Sars Coronavirus Inhibitor

Sunshine Biopharma Inc., a pharmaceutical company traded on NASDAQ under the symbol SBFM, recently announced the development of an orally active protease inhibitor with antiviral activity in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2. The company specializes in life-saving medicines across various therapeutic areas, including oncology and antivirals.

Sunshine Biopharma has highlighted an unfulfilled need for new agents to combat SARS-CoV-2 infections. The virus, which causes COVID-19, is known for its rapid mutation rate, leading to new variants that pose ongoing threats to public health. Immunocompromised individuals, who are prone to severe and long-lasting infections, often do not respond adequately to existing treatments or vaccines. Preventing early-stage infections in high-risk patients could potentially avert rapid disease progression and minimize hospitalizations.

PLpro, a viral protease essential for SARS-CoV-2 replication and immune system suppression, is a promising target for new antiviral compounds. Sunshine Biopharma published their initial research on PLpro inhibitors in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry in August 2024. Their leading compound has shown effectiveness at sub-micromolar concentrations against PLpro and exhibited antiviral activity in cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 and various concerning variants. Favorably, this compound demonstrated promising pharmacokinetics in rodent models, with preferred lung accumulation over plasma and oral effectiveness in reducing lung virus load without significant toxicity.

The ongoing research, in collaboration with the University of Arizona, aims to advance this compound through further development stages, including clinical trials. Sunshine Biopharma's CEO, Dr. Steve Slilaty, expressed optimism about the project's progress, noting their current focus on process chemistry for scale-up.

Beyond its antiviral research, Sunshine Biopharma markets 65 generic prescription drugs in Canada, with plans to launch 29 more in 2025. Among the upcoming releases is NIOPEG®, a biosimilar to NEULASTA®, intended to reduce infection rates in patients undergoing treatment for non-myeloid cancers.

In addition to its generic drug portfolio, Sunshine Biopharma is advancing a proprietary drug development program. This includes K1.1 mRNA, an mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticle targeting liver cancer, and SBFM-PL4, a small molecule inhibitor for treating SARS Coronavirus infections.

Sunshine Biopharma’s ongoing efforts underscore their commitment to addressing critical medical needs through innovative therapeutic solutions.