NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) said its lead antiviral candidate, NV-387, was found to be highly active when taken orally, making potentially the first nanomedicine to be effective in this way.
NV-387 demonstrated an ideal flat blood concentration profile for extended periods upon oral administration in animal models, the company found, which it said allows for sustained antiviral effects with infrequent dosing.
The flat blood concentration profile of NV-387 suggests it may avoid the side effects associated with rapid changes in drug concentration, a characteristic that the company said makes it highly desirable for antiviral therapy.
The company highlighted that oral NV-387 showed strong antiviral effects in several respiratory viruses, including a complete cure in the mouse model of lethal lung infection with RSV.
"We were pleasantly surprised that NV-387 is highly active upon oral administration, and now we have found that this is because it indeed crosses into the bloodstream upon oral administration, enabling systemic antiviral effects," said Anil R. Diwan, president of NanoViridices.
"NV-387 may be the very first or one of very few nanomedicines that are effective upon oral administration. Nanomedicines in general are restricted to injectable or topical delivery. NV-387 is thus unique in this respect."
The blood concentration of NV-387 was found to peak within the first hour of administration and remain constant for eight hours before declining to baseline at twelve hours, a pattern consistent in both male and female rats and dogs.
After repeated dosing, the plateau lasted at least 24 hours, declining to baseline at about 36 hours.
NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) recently completed Phase I human clinical safety trials in India with no reported adverse events. The company is now focused on advancing NV-387 into Phase II trials for RSV treatment.
Shares of the company were up 7.6% by midday in New York.
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