NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) told investors that the ultra-broad antiviral activity spectrum of its lead drug asset NV-387 includes activity against the orthopoxvirus family of viruses, which includes smallpox and mpox, in both inhalation and sexual modes of transmission.
In a lethal animal model of lung infection by the Ectromelia virus, a model for smallpox and mpox infection in humans, NV-387 led to an increase in the mice’s lifespan comparable to oral treatment with approved Smallpox drug tecovirimat.
Mice treated with NV-387 alone survived 15 days, tecovirimat-treated animals survived 16 days, and NV-387 plus tecovirimat-treated animals survived 19 days. Vehicle-treated animals survived eight days.
The study emulated infection from aerosolized dispersion of the virus, as may be expected in a bioterrorism scenario.
The company said the results of the lung infection study build on its previously reported intradigital footpad infection study that showed NV-387 has comparable antiviral activity as tecovirimat, and NV-387 plus tecovirimat has much stronger antiviral activity than either drug alone.
Mice treated with NV-387 alone or tecovirimat alone survived 14 days, mice treated with NV-387 in combination with tecovirimat survived 17 days, and vehicle-treated mice survived eight days.
This study emulated the skin-to-skin transfer of the virus as in sexual transmission, like in the case of the current Clade 1 mpox virus epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
NanoViricides highlighted that there is significant interest in the development of a smallpox therapeutic that works well by itself, as well as in combination with the known drug tecovirimat.
“We believe that the combination of NV-387 and tecovirimat could reduce the potential for escape-resistant generation against tecovirimat, as is known with other drug combination studies against viruses,” it said in a statement.
“A safe and effective antiviral drug that the virus would not escape by simple mutations or field evolution is the holy grail of antiviral drug development. We believe that the NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) Platform technology meets this challenge.”
Shares of NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) moved higher on the news, adding 10.4% at $1.85 at noon on Wednesday.
NanoViricides is a development-stage company creating special-purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy.
- Updated with share price movement -