NanoViricides

NanoViricides reports antiviral activity of NV-387 against measles in preclinical studies

NanoViricides said on Wednesday its experimental drug NV-387 showed strong activity against the measles virus in both cell culture studies and a humanized animal model.

The company said NV-387 treatment led to a 130% increase in survival time to 17 days from 7.4 days in mice infected with a lethal strain of the measles virus.

Treated animals also showed slower disease progression, less lung damage, and reduced levels of inflammation compared with untreated cases, according to the company.

NanoViricides said the findings suggest NV-387 has a dual effect of reducing viral load while protecting lung tissue and other organs from damage.

The company said NV-387, which has completed a Phase I clinical trial in healthy subjects, was found to be safe and well tolerated with no reportable adverse events.

According to NanoViricides, NV-387 works through a mechanism called “Re-Infection Inhibition,” in which the drug mimics cellular structures used by viruses to attach to host cells, neutralizing them before infection can occur.

The company said NV-387, available as an oral gummy formulation, is being developed as a broad-spectrum antiviral for respiratory viruses including RSV, influenza, bird flu, coronaviruses, MPox and smallpox.

NanoViricides added that it plans to seek non-dilutive grant and contract funding to support further development of NV-387 as a potential treatment for measles.