hVIVO PLC (AIM:HVO), a company specialising in testing treatments for infectious diseases, has completed a pilot study that could help its clients develop vaccines and medicines for human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a respiratory illness with no approved treatment.
The work, carried out at hVIVO’s research facility in London, tested a safe version of the virus on healthy volunteers. The results showed the virus caused clear symptoms and infection, proving it can be used to test potential treatments.
The company is now offering this testing model to drug makers and plans to continue refining it with a partner.
Dr Andrew Catchpole, hVIVO’s chief scientific officer, will share details of the study at a global conference on respiratory viruses in Brazil in March. The findings could accelerate efforts to address this common but under-researched illness.
"The pilot hMPV characterisation study in healthy volunteers was designed to test the feasibility of this new model and has been very successful, producing good infectivity rates and clear disease symptoms," said Catchpole.
"Like the hVIVO RSV models, I am confident our hMPV model can play a crucial role in speeding up the development of a first vaccine or antiviral for this global pathogen, which is currently causing particular concern in China1 where a surge in cases has been recorded."