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.
About the Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, NHRI
The Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research (IBPR) at the National Health Research Institutes is dedicated to innovative drug discovery and translational medicine research. By integrating multidisciplinary expertise in biology, chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics, the IBPR focuses on developing novel therapeutics for cancer, metabolic diseases, neurological disorders, and other major diseases. By bridging academic research, clinical needs, and industrial partnerships, the institute continuously promotes the translation and application of innovative R&D achievements to foster the growth of Taiwan’s biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. To date, the IBPR has successfully developed 23 drug candidates, technology-transferred 11 drug projects, obtained 9 IND approvals (across the US, Taiwan, and China), advanced 5 candidates into clinical trial phases, and achieved 1 drug successfully approved and launched on the market.
About AnHorn Medicines Co., Ltd.
Founded in 2020, AnHorn Medicines Co., Ltd. focuses on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate drug discovery, with a strategic emphasis on prescription medical aesthetics, cancer treatment, and cancer supportive care. The company’s proprietary AIMCADD® drug discovery platform enables the precise design of highly potent, safe, and patentable small molecules and protein degraders. AnHorn Medicines is committed to building AIMCADD® into a next-generation AI-driven R&D infrastructure—not only to boost its own development efficiency but also to empower the entire drug discovery ecosystem, thereby accelerating innovation and advancing precision medicine to deliver more sustainable and efficient therapeutic solutions.
More Information:
- AnHorn Medicines: https://www.anhornmed.com/zh-hant/news/ah-008-ind-cipn/