NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) is advancing its clinical program with plans for an innovative Phase II trial of its drug candidate NV-387, the company announced Monday.
The drug candidate NV-387, which has shown promise in treating various viral infections including RSV, COVID-19, and Influenza in animal studies, could revolutionize the treatment of respiratory viruses, according to the company.
Dr. Anil Diwan, NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC)' president and executive chairman, is spearheading efforts to develop a Phase II clinical trial protocol.
"We are already preparing for a novel Phase II clinical trial design to evaluate the effectiveness of NV-387 against RSV, Influenza, and COVID in a single clinical trial," Diwan said in a statement.
"Such a clinical trial design would save substantially on the costs of development, improve return on investment, as well as open new avenues of how to treat a respiratory viral infection for physicians, thereby defining a new chapter in humanity's fight against viruses and pandemics."
With a market size projected to reach $12 billion by 2027 for these three viruses alone, NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) sees significant potential for NV-387. The planned trial aims to demonstrate the drug's effectiveness across multiple viral infections in a single study, a novel approach that could streamline the path to market.
The company is targeting Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) caused by viruses, primarily focusing on Influenza, RSV, and Coronaviruses. Success in this trial could position NV-387 as a first-line treatment for respiratory viral infections, eliminating the need for virus-specific testing before treatment.
NV-387's design targets a host-cell feature critical to over 90% of human pathogens, potentially preventing viral escape—a significant advantage over existing treatments.
NanoViricides recently completed a Phase I trial assessing the safety and tolerability of NV-387, with data analysis expected soon.