NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) said it is moving forward with the development of a drug to treat measles, as US health officials report a continuing rise in infections amid declining vaccination rates.
The Shelton, Connecticut-based biotechnology firm said it has completed propagation of the measles virus in its biosafety level-2 virology lab and is preparing to conduct an animal model study to test its clinical-stage antiviral candidate NV-387.
"We believe we already have a drug that is very likely to be effective against measles virus," said Anil R. Diwan, executive chairman of NanoViricides.
“NV-387 is a first-ever broad-spectrum antiviral that is capable of attacking over 90-95% of human pathogenic viruses; and that includes paramyxoviruses such as RSV and measles virus.”
The company plans to test the drug in humanized hCD150 mice, which are specifically susceptible to measles infection. The study protocol has been submitted for regulatory approval, and the company expects to begin testing after acquiring the specialized animals in the coming weeks.
Diwan said the development was spurred by modeling from Stanford University suggesting measles could become endemic in the US if vaccination rates continue to decline. As of April 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 884 confirmed measles cases across 30 jurisdictions, a 24% increase in cases over two weeks.
“A drug for measles is at present a completely missing link in the response to measles virus outbreak,” Diwan said. “Viral spread cannot be contained without an effective drug to minimize illness and stop the virus transmission from the patients.”
While vaccines for measles are widely available and effective, NanoViricides said social and medical trends—including vaccine hesitancy, public mistrust, and a growing population with compromised immune systems—are undermining herd immunity.
NV-387 has previously demonstrated efficacy against multiple viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and influenza in animal studies. It works by mimicking heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG), a surface molecule used by many viruses, including measles, to infect cells. The company said NV-387 acts as a decoy that destroys the virus before it can spread.
The drug has completed a Phase I human clinical trial with no reported adverse events, the company said.
“There is currently no drug for RSV or for measles, and NV-387 could work against both viruses,” Diwan said.