hVIVO PLC (AIM:HVO) has announced the publication of findings from the world’s first COVID-19 characterisation trial in Nature Communications. The study identified blood-based biomarkers distinguishing early and late phases of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory virus infections. These discoveries may aid in improving infection diagnosis and management.
The trial, conducted by hVIVO with Imperial College London and other partners, confirmed the safety of SARS-CoV-2 human challenge studies in healthy young adults. It also provided detailed insights into COVID-19 infection progression, with potential public health benefits.
The study, previously highlighted in Nature Medicine in 2022, represents a significant step in understanding respiratory illnesses and supports hVIVO’s expertise in infectious disease research.
Chief scientific officer Dr Andrew Catchpole said: "Excitingly, the early-stage marker was observable sometimes even before PCR testing confirmed the presence of the virus, suggesting future clinical utility in inferring the infectiousness of a patient early in the infection time-course as well as a potential role in helping stratify patients for antiviral therapy."