NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC), a specialist in broad-spectrum antiviral medicines, believes its drug NV-387 could be crucial in fighting the bird flu virus H5N1.
In recent studies, NV-387 outperformed three approved flu medications—Tamiflu (Oseltamivir), Rapivab (Peramivir), and Xofluza (Baloxavir)—in treating severe lung infections caused by the Influenza A/H3N2 virus in animals.
NV-387 not only protected the lungs from viral damage but also prevented harm to the immune system, showing strong antiviral effects.
This finding is timely, as the bird flu H5N1 has spread to several mammal species, raising concerns.
While dairy cattle experienced mild infections, other animals, such as farm cats, died from brain infections caused by the virus.
So far, there have been only four human cases, with one death in Mexico and three recoveries in the US.
NV-387 is expected to be effective against the H5N1 virus, even if the virus undergoes significant mutations.
The H5N1 virus has a special site in its H5 part that helps it stick strongly to molecules on cell surfaces called sulfated proteoglycans (S-PG). NV-387 mimics S-PG, helping it to target and neutralize the virus effectively.
Additionally, NV-387 works against a wide range of viruses, including Influenza A, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, seasonal coronaviruses, and even poxviruses.
This broad-spectrum activity is due to NV-387's ability to mimic the S-PG attachment site common to these viruses.
The H5N1 virus also uses S-PG for attachment, possibly more effectively than H3N2 because of the MBS in H5N1.
Therefore, NV-387 is likely to continue working against H5N1 despite mutations that cause resistance to other drugs.
Very few single-point mutations could make the H5N1 virus resistant to existing drugs.
As few as five mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the H5N1 virus could enable it to efficiently infect humans, potentially leading to a pandemic with higher fatality rates than COVID-19, according to Dr. Robert Redfield, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Bird flu viruses use a-2,3-sialic acid receptors to enter cells, while human flu viruses use a-2,6-sialic acid receptors.
Both types of viruses typically concentrate at heparan sulfate or sulfated proteoglycans (S-PG) before entering cells.
Influenza viruses mutate rapidly and can exchange genetic material through processes called reassortment and recombination.
Reassortment occurs when two different strains of the virus swap segments of their genomes.
Recombination happens when parts of the genome segments mix and match.
These processes allow influenza viruses to adapt quickly and evade treatments.
Developing a safe and effective antiviral drug that can prevent the virus from escaping through simple mutations or field evolution is a significant challenge.
NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) believes its platform technology, which includes NV-387, meets this challenge by targeting the invariant attachment site common to many viruses, providing a robust defense against viral infections.