NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) believes its broad-spectrum antiviral NV-387 could provide a crucial weapon piece in the fight against the ongoing measles outbreak in the US.
The company responded to a recent opinion piece by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who highlighted the lack of an approved antiviral treatment for measles as a major gap in public health efforts.
"We would love to support the HHS Secretary's efforts and supplement those of the public health professionals in this time of crisis," said Dr. Anil R. Diwan, president of NanoViricides.
"We believe that an investigator-initiated clinical-trial to evaluate NV-387 as a treatment for measles within the current US FDA regulatory framework is warranted.
"If successful, NV-387 could be used to treat additional patients within an emergency outbreak regulatory framework, and thereby significantly help in augmenting the response to the current situation."
NanoViricides points to strong scientific reasoning behind its confidence in NV-387. The drug has already demonstrated effectiveness against multiple viruses that rely on heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) to infect cells, including RSV, Influenza, COVID-19, and Mpox.
Since measles also uses HSPG to attach to human cells, the company believes NV-387 has the potential to disrupt its ability to spread.
Further bolstering its case, NanoViricides notes that RSV and measles both belong to the paramyxovirus family. In a previous study, NV-387 successfully treated RSV infection in a lethal animal model. Given the similarities, the company believes the drug could show similar efficacy against measles.
The measles outbreak has become a growing concern, particularly as even some vaccinated individuals are being hospitalized. The virus is the most contagious disease known to humans, spreading even before symptoms appear and continuing to spread for days afterward.
Traditional containment measures like contact tracing and isolation are difficult to enforce effectively. While traditional vaccination remains critical, it does not provide immediate protection during an active outbreak, as it takes weeks for immunity to build.
NanoViricides argues that NV-387 could fill this gap by offering a direct treatment for those already infected. The company is urging the HHS Secretary to support its efforts to accelerate development and commercialization of the drug.
“In this emergency situation, we urge the Secretary to support our work on NV-387, a broad-spectrum antiviral that is not only expected to treat measles but also to serve as a platform for future outbreak and pandemic response,” Dr. Diwan said.