NanoViricides CEO Dr. Anil Diwan shared promising updates about the company's ultra-broad-spectrum antiviral, NV-387, which has shown efficacy in protecting lungs from damage in a lethally infected Influenza A H3N2 mouse model. The study demonstrated that both oral and intravenous treatments with NV-387 significantly reduced lung infiltration by immune system cells, with oral treatment resulting in about 31% infiltration and intravenous treatment showing an even lower rate of about 22%. In contrast, untreated infected animals exhibited a high infiltration rate of 68%, indicating that NV-387 provides substantial lung protection in Balb/c mice infected with the Influenza A H3N2 virus.
Dr. Diwan emphasized the importance of lung protection, noting that severe respiratory viral infections often lead to hospitalization and fatalities due to extensive lung damage. The study revealed that NV-387 significantly improved survival rates compared to three approved influenza drugs, underscoring its potential as a powerful therapeutic option for severe influenza and possibly other respiratory viral infections.
The study also found that NV-387 protects the lungs from both viral and immune system damage, supporting its strong antiviral effect. This discovery comes at a critical time, as the bird flu H5N1 threat has increased due to its spread into several mammalian species. While dairy cattle have experienced relatively mild infections, some mammals, particularly cats on farms, have succumbed to brain infections caused by the virus. So far, four human cases have been reported, with one fatality in Mexico and three recoveries in the USA.
The emergence of such threats highlights the urgency and potential impact of NV-387 in addressing not only current viral challenges but also emerging ones. This development marks a critical advancement in antiviral therapies, offering hope for more effective treatments against severe respiratory infections.
