JW Jungwoo Pharmaceutical "Targeted Anticancer Candidate Substance Also Effective for Severe Pulmonary Disease"

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] JW Pharmaceutical announced on the 30th that CWP291, a Wnt-targeting anticancer drug being developed as a treatment for COVID-19, has shown not only antiviral effects against COVID-19 but also efficacy in severe lung diseases.

According to JW Pharmaceutical, CWP291 has been patented as a "composition for treating pulmonary fibrosis." Pulmonary fibrosis, a refractory lung disease, is a respiratory condition in which lung tissue hardens, causing severe respiratory impairment.

In a recently completed animal model efficacy evaluation for pulmonary fibrosis as an indication, CWP291 demonstrated antifibrotic efficacy equal to or greater than that of existing drugs. The company expects that it will also help in treating COVID-19-related lung diseases.

According to the research results, compared to the control group treated with existing drugs, CWP291 significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokine proteins TNF-β, IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-1β, and showed efficacy in reducing tissue remodeling caused by inflammatory cell infiltration.

A JW Pharmaceutical official stated, "The Wnt signaling pathway is known to play an important role in the development of severe lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and pulmonary arterial hypertension," and added, "We plan to verify the antiviral effects against COVID-19 and the therapeutic effects on lung diseases through drug repurposing clinical trials of CWP291."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.