SyneuRx Discovers Pentarlandir® Ultrapure Tannic Acid as a Potential Treatment for Influenza Virus Infection
Press Release
September 18, 2024
New Taipei City, Taiwan – September 18, 2024 –
A groundbreaking study led by SyneuRx International (Taiwan) Corp. (TPEX:6575) has been published in Future Virology. SyneuRx has identified Pentarlandir® ultrapure and potent tannic acid (UPPTA) as a promising antiviral agent against influenza viruses, including several drug-resistant strains. This research was conducted in collaboration with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei Medical University, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The findings demonstrate that Pentarlandir® UPPTA inhibits viral enzymes and targets key human proteases essential for influenza virus activation and propagation.
Influenza remains a major global health threat, infecting nearly a billion people each year. Current antiviral treatments, such as neuraminidase inhibitors like oseltamivir (Tamiflu), often met challenges of the emergence of drug-resistant viral strains. SyneuRx’s study highlights that Pentarlandir® UPPTA effectively inhibits viral neuraminidase activity and key host proteases, such as human airway trypsin-like protease (HAT) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (hTMPRSS2), which are crucial for viral entry. By blocking multiple pathways, Pentarlandir® UPPTA likely can reduce the risk of drug resistance.
Laboratory tests showed that Pentarlandir® UPPTA effectively inhibited multiple H1N1, H3N2, B/Victoria, and B/Yamagata influenza strains, including oseltamivir-resistant variants, at appropriate concentrations. Furthermore, when combined with oseltamivir, Pentarlandir® UPPTA exhibited a synergistic effect, significantly enhancing the drug’s antiviral efficacy.
In a mouse model, Pentarlandir® UPPTA treatment not only reduced virus-induced body weight loss and inflammatory cytokine levels but also protected lung tissue from damage. The treated mice showed significantly lower lung inflammation and tissue damage compared to the untreated controls, highlighting Pentarlandir® UPPTA’s potential in preventing severe lung complications associated with influenza infections.
These findings suggest that Pentarlandir® UPPTA could serve as an alternative or complementary treatment for multiple influenza infections, particularly in the face of ever emerging resistant strains. The research team plans further investigate and confirm its clinical efficacy and explore its potential against other respiratory viruses.
Original Paper Information:
📄 Ultrapure and Potent Tannic Acid as a Pluripotent Protease and Influenza HA Inhibitor Against Influenza Virus Infection
📌 Published in Future Virology (September 18, 2024)
🔗 Full paper: https://doi.org/10.1080/17460794.2024.2398949