SHPL-49

SHPL-49 is a novel, structurally modified derivative of salidroside, originally isolated from the medicinal plant Rhodiola rosea. It is being developed by Shanghai Hutchison Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that SHPL-49 exerts neuroprotective effects through multiple mechanisms, including alleviating calcium overload, reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis, promoting neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity via activation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pathway, modulating microglial polarization toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype (M2), upregulating glutamate transporter GLT-1 to reduce excitotoxicity, and activating the NR2A-CaMKIIα-Akt/CREB signaling pathway. The drug is administered intravenously and is currently in Phase II clinical trials in China for acute ischemic stroke[1][3][4][5][6][8].