NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) announced that its lead drug asset NV-387 has shown ultra-broad antiviral activity, including against Influenza A viruses.
The company said that in a lethal animal model of lung infection by Influenza A/H3N2 virus, NV-387 demonstrated “substantially superior antiviral effects” compared to three approved anti-influenza drugs, Oseltamivir, Peramivir, and Baloxivir.
It said NV-387 oral treatment led to a survival lifespan of 15 days, compared to 10 days with Oseltamivir oral treatment, 11 days with Peramivir IV treatment, and 11 days with Baloxivir oral treatment. The vehicle-treated and untreated (infected) animals survived 8 days.
NV-387 increased the survival lifespan of the lethally infected mice by 88%.
"We are pleasantly surprised by this extremely broad and strong antiviral activity of NV-387," Dr Anil Diwan, CEO of NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) said.
"We are close to having a single drug NV-387 for the treatment of all of the tripledemic respiratory viruses - Coronaviruses, RSV, and Influenza A - which would be a revolutionary achievement."
The company said that they believe NV-387 could have strong antiviral activity against the bird flu H5N1 virus but noted that further work is needed in this regard.
Shares of the NanoViricides, which is creating special-purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy, moved higher on the news, adding 13.6% in premarket trade Monday.