Silmitasertib is in clinical trials for use as an adjunct to chemotherapy in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer),[1] is in phase I and II clinical trials for the treatment of recurrent Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma,[2][3] and in preclinical development for other cancers, including hematological and lymphoid malignancies.

[6][7] In SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infected Caco-2 cells, the phosphorylase activity of casein kinase 2 (CK2) is increased resulting in phosphorylation of several cytoskeletal proteins.

[8] Senhwa Biosciences and the US National Institutes of Health have announced that they will evaluate the efficacy of silmitasertib in treating COVID-19 infections.

[9] CX-4945 was originated by now-defunct Cylene Pharmaceuticals of San Diego, California, as the culmination of a lengthy process of rational, structure-based molecular modification of a lead compound known to have PARP inhibitor activity.

[10] Among a large series of compounds built around a benzo[c]-[2,6]naphthyridine-8-carboxylic acid scaffold, CX-4945 was chosen for its high potency and selectivity as an inhibitor of CK2.