# AH-008 Achieves Key Clinical Milestone with Successful First Subject First Dose (FSFD) in Phase I Study for Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/ah-008-achieves-key-clinical-milestone-with-successful-first-subject-first-dose-fsfd-in-phase-i-study-for-prevention-of-chemotherapy-induced-peripheral-neuropathy-cipn
- Published: 2026-07-23T21:00:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

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TAIPEI, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — **AnHorn Medicines today announced the successful
completion of the first subject first dose in the Phase I clinical trial of AH-008,
a first-in-class neuroprotective candidate being developed to prevent** **chemotherapy-
induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)**. This milestone marks the clinical advancement
of a novel therapeutic approach designed to address one of the most common and debilitating
complications of cancer treatment.

**Addressing a Significant Unmet Medical Need**

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a frequent and dose-limiting
side effect of widely used cancer therapies, including taxanes, platinum-based agents,
vinca alkaloids, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). CIPN can cause numbness, tingling,
pain, and sensory impairment that often persist long after treatment ends.

Studies indicate that 60–70% of patients experience CIPN during or shortly after
chemotherapy, and nearly one-third continue to suffer six months or longer post-
treatment. Despite its substantial burden, no approved therapies currently exist
to prevent CIPN, and treatment options for established neuropathy remain limited.[
1]

**Preventing CIPN: Benefits for Patients and Cancer Care**

CIPN not only impacts patient quality of life but also forces oncologists to reduce
chemotherapy doses, delay schedules, or discontinue therapy—compromising treatment
outcomes.

By preventing nerve damage before it occurs, AH-008 has the potential to:

 ◦ Improve quality of life for patients undergoing chemotherapy
 ◦ Reduce treatment-related pain, numbness, and sensory dysfunction
 ◦ Preserve chemotherapy dose intensity and adherence
 ◦ Enable patients to remain on optimal anti-cancer regimens
 ◦ Reduce long-term healthcare costs associated with chronic neuropathy

"The economic burden of CIPN is estimated at approximately $17,000 per patient, 
translating into a total societal burden of up to $153 billion. Preventing CIPN 
represents one of the most significant unmet needs in supportive oncology today,"
said Shu-Jen Chen, Chief Scientific Officer of AnHorn Medicines. "The successful
first patient dosing in our Phase I study marks an important step toward developing
a disease-modifying therapy that could protect patients from debilitating nerve 
damage while enabling them to receive the full benefit of cancer treatment."

**Large and Growing Market Opportunity**

Each year, millions of cancer patients worldwide receive neurotoxic chemotherapy
agents associated with CIPN. As these regimens expand across global markets, CIPN
remains one of the most common and clinically meaningful dose-limiting toxicities
in oncology.

With no approved preventive therapies, the global addressable market for CIPN prevention
is estimated at US$15-19 billion annually, underscoring the significant commercial
opportunity for a first-in-class approach.[2]

The treatment-enabling paradigm of AH-008 is analogous to granulocyte colony-stimulating
factors (G-CSF), such as Neulasta, which prevent chemotherapy-induced neutropenia
and enable full-dose chemotherapy. Similarly, AH-008 may establish a new standard
of care in supportive oncology by addressing a key toxicity that currently limits
cancer treatment delivery.

**AH-008 Highlights**

AH-008 is a novel neuroprotective drug candidate designed to prevent chemotherapy-
induced nerve damage before irreversible neuropathy develops.

Key differentiators include:

 ◦ **First-in-class mechanism** targeting pathways of chemotherapy-induced neuroinflammation
 ◦ **Preventive approach** focused on reducing CIPN incidence
 ◦ Broad applicability across multiple chemotherapy classes, including taxanes, 
   platinum compounds, and ADCs
 ◦ Potential to preserve chemotherapy intensity without compromising efficacy
 ◦ Address a major unmet need with no approved preventive therapies
 ◦ Strong commercial potential in the growing supportive oncology market

**About the AH-008 Phase I Study**

The Phase I clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and
pharmacokinetics of AH-008 in healthy volunteers. The data generated will support
subsequent clinical development in cancer patients at risk of developing CIPN.

**About AnHorn Medicines**

Founded in 2020, AnHorn Medicines is an AI-driven biotech company specializing in
novel small molecules and protein degraders for aesthetic medicine, oncology, and
supportive cancer care. The company’s proprietary AIMCADD AI platform integrates
generative AI and molecular simulation to design highly potent, safe, and patentable
drug candidates with unprecedented efficiency.

AnHorn is redefining how AI integrates into drug discovery—accelerating innovation,
advancing precision medicine, and enabling a more sustainable therapeutic development
ecosystem.

**Forward-Looking Statements**

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the development,
potential benefits, and future commercialization of AH-008. Actual results may differ
materially due to risks and uncertainties inherent in clinical development, regulatory
review, and market adoption.

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Reference

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**1. Seretny M, Currie GL, Sena ES, et al.**
_Incidence, prevalence, and predictors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis._Pain. 2014;155(12):2461-2470.

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2. Company calculation based on the size of chemotherapy new incidence patients per year in 16 major pharmaceutical markets

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  |  This article was produced by Cision PR Newswire, our trusted news partner. The views expressed and the content presented here are solely those of the author and may not fully reflect the opinions of Thailand Business News. |

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