Broad-Spectrum Antiviral NV-387 Protects Lungs in Lethal Influenza A Model

NanoViricides, Inc., a clinical-stage company recognized globally for its broad-spectrum antiviral nanomedicines, has announced the promising results of its drug candidate NV-387 in combating severe lung damage caused by Influenza A H3N2 in a mouse model. NV-387, currently in Phase II of clinical development, demonstrated significant lung protection, which is critical as severe lung damage often leads to hospitalizations and fatalities in respiratory viral infections.

Dr. Anil R. Diwan, President and Executive Chairman of NanoViricides, emphasized the importance of these findings, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where severe lung damage from the Delta variant led to numerous hospitalizations and deaths. Viruses such as Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 can cause severe lung damage, underscoring the need for effective treatments like NV-387.

Key Findings from the Study

Reduction in Lung Infiltration and Cell Death
In the study, NV-387 was administered to infected mice either orally or intravenously. Both methods of administration resulted in a notable reduction of immune cells infiltrating the lungs. These immune cells are a major contributor to lung damage in addition to the damage caused directly by the virus. On the seventh day post-infection, there was about 31% lung infiltration from immune cells in orally treated mice and about 22% in intravenously treated mice. In stark contrast, untreated infected mice showed a 68% infiltration rate.

Reduction in Lung Mucus Load
NV-387 treatment also led to a significant reduction in lung mucus. Mucus, secreted in response to viral infections, can clog airways and reduce lung capacity, leading to complications like pneumonia. Treated mice showed a mucus index of 53 with oral administration and 32 with intravenous administration, compared to 138 in untreated infected mice.

The overall findings indicate that NV-387 offers significant lung protection in mice lethally infected with the Influenza A H3N2 virus.

Superior Survival Rate Compared to Existing Drugs
Earlier results from the same study highlighted that NV-387 significantly increased the survival rate of infected mice compared to three approved influenza drugs: Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), Peramivir (Rapivab), and Baloxavir (Xofluza). NV-387 treatment improved survival by 88% over untreated controls, while the existing drugs only managed an improvement of about 25% to 38%. This suggests that NV-387 is potentially more effective than currently available treatments.

Low Likelihood of Viral Resistance
One of the compelling advantages of NV-387 is its design, which makes the likelihood of viral resistance very low. Unlike current drugs, which face resistance issues, NV-387's host-mimetic design makes it difficult for the virus to evolve resistance. This is a significant advantage in antiviral drug development, aiming to create treatments that remain effective over time.

Safety and Next Steps
NV-387 has successfully completed Phase I human clinical trials with no reported adverse events and no dropouts, demonstrating excellent safety and tolerability. This positions NV-387 for further development in Phase II clinical trials.

In summary, NV-387 shows promise as a potent antiviral drug against Influenza viruses. Its ability to significantly reduce lung damage and improve survival rates, combined with a low likelihood of resistance development, makes it a strong candidate in the fight against respiratory viral infections.

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