NeuroVive Pharmaceutical presents preclinical data from a new generation of sanglifehrin-based compounds with potent inhibitory effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and anti-cancer activity in an experimental model of HCC at the scientific conference EASL HCC Summit held in Geneva, Switzerland, 2-5 February, 2017.

The company has explored anti-cancer effects in a new proprietary subset of sanglifehrin-based compounds. Results from a recently generated model compound, in which the anti-cancer activity has been optimized, show up to 500 times more potent inhibitory effects on human hepatocellular cancer cells (in vitro) compared to the existing cancer drug sorafenib (a registered drug for the treatment of advanced HCC). Furthermore, this compound class also demonstrated anti-cancer activity in an experimental (in vivo) model of HCC, after oral as well as intraperitoneal dosing. The compounds were not toxic to normal cells and well tolerated in vivo.

The results are summarized in a poster with the titlePreclinical analysis of sanglifehrin-based cyclophilin inhibitors showing potential for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma1. The posterwill be presented at the conference.

“We are very impressed by the anti-cancer potency that has been revealed in these studies. This new sanglifehrin-based compound class, which we have optimized for anti-cancer activity, offers a very much needed new therapeutic opportunity to combat HCC through a unique mechanism of action”, said Magnus Hansson, Chief Medical Officer at NeuroVive.