Sunshine Biopharma Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of oncology and antiviral drugs today announced that it has entered into an Agreement with the University of Georgia for the purposes of working together to advance the development of Sunshine Biopharma's recently announced Anti-Coronavirus lead compound, SBFM-PL4. The goal of this cutting-edge collaboration is to develop SBFM-PL4, a protease inhibitor, as a treatment for Coronavirus infections. This new treatment is based on the technology described in Sunshine Biopharma's recently filed patent application covering small molecules which can be used to treat Coronavirus infections. Sunshine's SBFM-PL4, will be put through a series of in vitro tests to evaluate its specific inhibitory activity against the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro), one of two Coronavirus encoded proteases essential for viral replication. Following the initial in vitrostudies, SBFM-PL4 will be moved forward to the cell culture testing stage and assessment in Coronavirus infected mice before entering human clinical trials.

"We are delighted to be working with the University of Georgia and Dr. Scott Pegan and his team of Coronavirus experts who share our vision of developing a treatment that would make a difference in the fight against the pandemic," said Dr. Steve Slilaty, CEO of Sunshine Biopharma.