Artemisinin analogue SM934 ameliorates the proteinuria and renal fibrosis in rat experimental membranous nephropathy.

Aim: SM934 is a novel water-soluble artemisinin derivative with immunoregulatory activities that has been used to treat murine lupus nephritis. In the current study, we investigated the effects of SM934 on rat experimental membranous nephropathy.

Methods: Passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) was induced in SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of anti-Fx1A serum.

Discovering novel anti-HCV compounds with inhibitory activities toward HCV NS3/4A protease.

Aim: To discover novel hepatitis C virus (HCV) inhibitors and elucidate the mechanism of action of the active compounds.

Methods: HCV subgenomic replicon-based luciferase reporter cell line was used to screen 1200 synthetic compounds with novel structures. Huh7.

Benzimidazole derivative, BM601, a novel inhibitor of hepatitis B virus and HBsAg secretion.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) belongs to the Hepadnaviridae family. HBsAg, greatly outnumbered mature virion, has been mysterious since the discovery of HBV. A novel benzimidazole derivative, BM601, is identified inhibiting the secretion of HBV virions and HBsAg, with 50% effective concentration of 0.