(the "Company") reports that post-infection treatment with its optimized FluCide(TM) drug candidates resulted in dramatic reduction in the number of lung lesions that are caused by a lethal influenza virus infection. These findings were seen in the most recent H1N1 influenza animal study.
Four days post virus infection, animals treated with three of the optimized FluCide(TM) nanoviricide drug candidates exhibited greater than 95% reduction in the number of lung lesions as compared to the infected yet untreated control animals (p-values < 0.001). In contrast,animals treated with Oseltamivir (Tamiflu(R), Roche) showed only a 50% reduction. In another significant finding, no increase in the number or size of the lung lesions was observed over the entire duration of the study in the FluCide(TM)-treated animals. This was not the case for the Oseltamivir-treated animals. This demonstrated that treatment with FluCide drug candidates provided clear and strong protection against lung damage caused by the severe influenza infection.
The studies were conducted by Dr. Krishna Menon, PhD, VMD, MRCS, at KARD Scientific, MA. One million virus particles of Influenza A Strain A/WS/33 (H1N1) were aspirated directly into the lungs of mice. The same quantity of virus infection was repeated at 22 hrs. This influenza model was designed to be uniformly fatal in 100% of the infected, untreated animals within 5 days after infection. Treatment with the FluCide candidates and Oseltamivir commenced 24 hours after the first viral infection. The duration of study was 21 days.
The Company had previously reported that the same three optimized FluCide(TM) nanoviricide drug candidates achieved significantly increased survival (20.2 to 22.2 days) as compared to animals treated with Oseltamivir (only 8.3 day survival). The lung histology (microscopic tissue examination) data show that the observed increase in survival was accompanied by a dramatic reduction in virus-induced lung inflammation and necrosis.
"Protection of the FluCide-treated animals against the development of influenza-specific lung inflammation and necrosis, together with the markedly extended survival clearly demonstrate the therapeutic potential of these FluCide nanoviricide drug candidates," said Dr. Krishna Menon, KARD Scientific, adding, "Importantly, there were no drug-related side effects observed in the FluCide-treated animals."
Pulmonary viral load studies, another important tool for evaluation of drug effectiveness, are currently in process. The results will be reported when they become available.
"These studies have clearly demonstrated that FluCide drug candidates are significantly superior to current therapies for influenza in animal models," said Eugene Seymour, MD, MPH, CEO of the Company, adding, "Lung damage is a very important part of the pathology of influenza virus infection. Uncontrolled lung damage is associated with viral pneumonitis that, in severe cases of influenza, can lead to respiratory failure and refractory shock, the two most common causes of death. The world has seen such severe cases in the recent H1N1 pandemic, and continues to witness them with sporadic cases of H5N1 bird flu infections. We are very pleased with the finding that FluCide can protect animals against influenza viral lung damage."
The Company is presenting its work at the 2nd Annual "Encouraging Development of Therapeutics for Neglected Diseases" Conference being held in Philadelphia, PA, today, April 4th. The Company has sponsored a luncheon presentation at this Conference. Anil R. Diwan, PhD, President of the Company, will be presenting the Company's work on neglected diseases including Dengue, Rabies, Ebola, and Bird Flu (H5N1). The Company plans to include the late-breaking information discussed in this press release in the presentation.
About NanoViricides:
NanoViricides, Inc. (
Welcome to NanoViricides, Inc.) is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for viral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide(R) class of drug candidates are designed to specifically attack enveloped virus particles and to dismantle them. The Company is developing drugs against a number of viral diseases including H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, oral and genital Herpes, viral diseases of the eye including EKC and herpes keratitis, Hepatitis C, Rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola virus, among others.
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(the "Company") reports that post-infection treatment with its optimized FluCide(TM) drug candidates resulted in significant reduction in lung tissue presence of leukocytes, and in particular, that of eosinophils in a lethal influenza infection animal model.
Four days post virus infection, animals treated with three of the optimized FluCide(TM) nanoviricide drug candidates exhibited a substantial reduction in overall leukocytes in lung tissue as compared to untreated infected control. More importantly, the eosinophil count in the lung tissues of the nanoviricide treated animals was also significantly lower than untreated animals. Further, this reduced lung tissue presence of damaging immune system cells was found to persist over the entire duration of study. In contrast, animals treated with Oseltamivir (Tamiflu(R), Roche) showed reduced eosinophil and leukocyte count initially that rapidly rose to the level of untreated animals.
Eosinophil expansion occurs in response to a viral infection, and is indicative of a viral infection. Various white blood cells (leukocytes) also increase in response to a viral infection. These phenomena are part of the normal immune response. In severe influenza cases, it is thought that patients can go into a stage called "cytokine storm syndrome". This may be thought of as an all-out attack by an expanded army of white blood cells in response to an uncontrolled viral infection. In an attempt to control the viral infection, the immune system attacks the infected cells as well as nearby normal cells. This can lead to severe lung damage that may rapidly become fatal.
"The finding that FluCide drug candidates showed substantially reduced extent of white blood cells, and in particular, eosinophils, in the lung tissue, is very significant," said Randall W. Barton, PhD Immunologist, CSO of the Company, adding, "This indicates that FluCide drug candidates may be highly effective in severe cases of influenza as well as cases of bird flu, H5N1, by protecting the patient from cytokine storm phenomena."
He also observed that the reduced white blood cell and eosinophil counts were consistent with the dramatic reduction in lung lesions that the Company has recently reported.
The studies were conducted by Dr. Krishna Menon, PhD, VMD, MRCS, at KARD Scientific, MA. One million virus particles of Influenza A Strain A/WS/33 (H1N1) were aspirated directly into the lungs of mice. The same quantity of virus infection was repeated at 22 hrs. This influenza model was designed to be uniformly fatal in 100% of the infected, untreated animals within 5 days after infection. Treatment with the FluCide candidates and Oseltamivir commenced 24 hours after the first viral infection. The duration of study was 21 days. Animals were sampled at 4.5, 9.5, 13.5 and 19.5 days for histological studies.
The Company had previously reported that the same three optimized FluCide(TM) nanoviricide drug candidates achieved significantly increased survival (20.2 to 22.2 days) as compared to animals treated with Oseltamivir (only 8.3 day survival). The lung histology (microscopic tissue examination) data show that the observed increase in survival was accompanied by a dramatic reduction in virus-induced lung inflammation and necrosis.
The Company is presenting its work at the "2nd Annual NanoBusiness NYC Conference" (
New York City 2011 | NanoBusiness Commercialization Association) being held in New York City, today, April 7th. Anil R. Diwan, PhD, President of the Company, will be presenting the Company's work as a pioneer in antiviral nanomedicines at this Conference. Dr. Diwan has been invited to participate on the panel on "Nanomedicine: Innovation, Partnership and Investment", chaired by Dr. Mostafa Analoui, PhD, Head of Healthcare and Life Sciences, The Livingston Group. The Company plans to include the late-breaking information discussed in this press release in the presentation.
About NanoViricides:
NanoViricides, Inc. (
Welcome to NanoViricides, Inc.) is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for viral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide(R) class of drug candidates are designed to specifically attack enveloped virus particles and to dismantle them. The Company is developing drugs against a number of viral diseases including H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, oral and genital Herpes, viral diseases of the eye including EKC and herpes keratitis, Hepatitis C, Rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola virus, among others.