A Novel Broad-Spectrum Antiviral with Activity Against Influenza A - Seite 2

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Given the broad-spectrum of antiviral activity of NV-387 against viruses in many different virus families, we believe that its effectiveness against Influenza A/H3N2 is indicative of potential antiviral activity against most if not all Influenza A viruses.

In particular, we believe, based on structural information, that the H5 hemagglutinin of H5N1 bird flu virus may be even more susceptible to NV-387 attack than the H3 hemagglutinin of the H3N2 virus. This is because H5 contains a long polybasic site sequence, which has biochemical affinity from electrostatic interactions with the antiviral ligand used in NV-387. This antiviral ligand is a sulfated proteoglycan mimetic.

Thus it is very likely that NV-387 may have strong antiviral activity against the bird flu H5N1 virus, although further work is needed in this regard.

"We are pleasantly surprised by this extremely broad and strong antiviral activity of NV-387," said Anil R. Diwan, Ph.D., President and Executive Chairman of the Company, adding, "We are close to having a single drug NV-387 for the treatment of all of the tripledemic respiratory viruses - Coronaviruses, RSV, and Influenza A, which would be a revolutionary achievement."

We note that all three approved influenza drugs oseltamivir, peramivir and baloxivir are known to be prone to viral escape by mutations. In contrast, NV-387 as a host-mimetic is highly unlikely to be escaped by the susceptible viruses.

To date H5N1 bird flu virus has caused only sporadic infections in humans that have been zoonotic in origin, most previous ones being from poultry to humans, while recently cases from cattle to human transmission have occurred. H5N1 has caused increasing spread in wild bird and poultry populations, and now has taken hold in several herds of dairy cattle. Recent reports by CDC indicate that the current H5N1 dairy virus has not incorporated mutations necessary for successful human infection and for human-to-human transmission.