NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) said on Monday that its experimental broad-spectrum antiviral drug NV-387, now advancing into Phase II clinical trials, may help lower the risk of metastatic cancer returning in patients following viral infections.
The company said recent studies have found that inflammation, particularly elevated levels of the cytokine IL-6 caused by infections such as COVID-19 and influenza, can reactivate dormant cancer cells, leading to the resurgence of metastatic disease.
NV-387 has completed a Phase I trial and, according to NanoViricides, has shown the ability to reduce IL-6 and other inflammation markers in both preclinical studies and early testing. The company said this dual effect — directly targeting viruses while moderating immune response — may help protect patients in remission from having cancers return after viral illness.
“We have found that NV-387 treatment reduces inflammation markers, particularly, IL-6, thereby protecting lungs,” said Anil R Diwan, president and chairman of NanoViricides. “This reduction in inflammation and cyto-protective effect of NV-387 would also help minimize the risk of reawakening cancer, based on these reported studies.”
The company said NV-387 has demonstrated broad antiviral activity in animal studies against pathogens including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A/H3N2, and measles. In those models, it said the drug provided strong lung protection where standard treatments such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir), Rapivab (peramivir) and Xofluza (baloxavir) showed limited benefit.
The company said the next stage of development will focus on advancing NV-387 through Phase II clinical trials to further evaluate its efficacy in humans.