National Health Research Institutes

The neuroprotective candidate drug DBPR168, jointly developed by the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), has achieved a major regulatory milestone. Its technology transfer partner, AnHorn Medicines Co., Ltd., has successfully advanced the drug's development and secured Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early 2026. This achievement marks a significant step forward for Taiwan's independently developed innovative therapeutics in entering the global clinical development stage.

DBPR168 is primarily designed to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Research indicates that the drug can effectively inhibit neuroinflammation and immune cell infiltration triggered by chemotherapy drugs, demonstrating its strong potential as a neuroprotective therapy that could significantly improve the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing treatment.

According to the NHRI, the technology transfer of DBPR168 was finalized in late 2024, after which AnHorn Medicines took charge of manufacturing process development, regulatory filings, and clinical trial planning. This U.S. FDA IND approval showcases the fruitful results of domestic collaboration among academic, research, and industrial sectors in driving new drug development and translational research. Moving forward, AnHorn Medicines will actively launch the Phase I clinical trial, aiming to accelerate the drug's development process and provide cancer patients with a novel and proactive neuroprotective treatment option.

More Information:

• AnHorn Medicines: https://www.anhornmed.com/zh-hant/news/ah-008-ind-cipn/