DW2008

DW2008 is an anhydrous ethanol extract of the plant Justicia procumbens (water willow), developed by DongWha Pharmaceutical as a candidate drug primarily for asthma. It selectively suppresses T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines and ameliorates airway inflammation in preclinical models, showing greater efficacy than other extracts of the same plant. The main active components are justicidin A and B, which contribute to its anti-inflammatory effects. Mechanistically, DW2008 acts through negative regulation of TIGIT (an immune checkpoint protein), blockade of adenosine A3 receptor (A3AR), and inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4). In addition to its anti-asthmatic properties, preclinical studies have shown that DW2008 exhibits antiviral activity against COVID-19 in vitro and improves lung function in animal models[1][2][3].

Other names

Justicia procumbens extractanhydrous ethanol extract of Justicia procumbenswater willow extract