PharmaDrug Inc (CSE:BUZZ) (OTCPINK:LMLLF) subsidiary Sariyo Therapeutics Inc, a biotechnology company developing the compound Cepharanthine as a treatment for cancer and other diseases, announced Thursday that gastric cancer expert Yelena Janjigian has joined its newly appointed scientific and clinical advisory board.
Janjigian is the chief of the Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Service in the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology within the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York.
An international expert in cancers of the esophagus and stomach, Janjigian is currently leading several studies that could impact the standard of care for cancers in these fields. She is the lead investigator for the ongoing Phase 3 CheckMate 649 trial of the drugs nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) in treatment-naïve patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer, compared with nivolumab and chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone.
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"I am passionate about improving treatment outcomes for people with esophageal and stomach cancers," Janjigian said in a statement.. "As chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, my mission is to foster research and innovation to transform the future of gastrointestinal oncology and help patients worldwide."
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, the company said. In clinical research, Cepharanthine has exhibited multiple pharmacological properties, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anti-cancer, antiviral and antiparasitic properties.
"We are grateful to have Dr. Janjigian join our scientific and clinical advisory board to provide us with valuable guidance and clinical expertise in gastric cancers," CEO Daniel Cohen said.
Sairiyo has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) orphan drug designation approval for Cepharanthine in the treatment of esophageal cancer, and the company has an exclusive license from a research and development organization to develop and commercialize reformulated Cepharanthine for all diseases.
The company's pharmaceutical strategy with Cepharanthine will focus on expanding its potential in cancer through pre-clinical and clinical research, forming research collaborations with academic institutions and industry and adding additional experts to its scientific and clinical advisory board, the company said.
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