NanoViricides, Inc., (the "Company"), a nanomedicine company developing anti-viral drugs, reports that the dramatic improvements in clinical symptoms associated with herpes simplex virus infection were reproduced in an animal model in a different laboratory. These studies were performed by TransPharm Preclinical Solutions ("TransPharm"), a pre-clinical services company in Jackson, MI.
All of the nanoviricides® tested improved clinical scores dramatically, with clinical presentation being arrested at redness or simply raised local lesions, and a complete absence of zosteriform spreading. All of the nanoviricides treated animals survived the lethal HSV-1 infection challenge for the duration of the study while untreated animals died towards the end of the study. These nanoviricides are designed as topical treatment for the breakout of herpes sores.
Some of the nanoviricides found effective in the previous study were tested in this study for the confirmation of efficacy in a dermal animal model in Balb-c mice using the same highly aggressive and neurotropic HSV-1 strain H129c, which was used previously.
The earlier studies were performed in the laboratory of Dr. Ken S. Rosenthal at Northeast Ohio Medical University where Dr. Rosenthal continued as a Professor Emeritus. He is a leading researcher in herpes virus anti-viral agents and vaccines.
In the previous study, two of the anti-Herpes nanoviricides® reduced the extent of disease (morbidity) and mortality of the HSV-1 infected animals that were treated. These nanoviricides also reduced virus production in cell culture. Importantly, topical dermal treatment with these nanoviricides led to almost complete (>85%) survival of the infected mice in this animal model whereas all untreated animals died of the disease. Further, these nanoviricides were superior to topical treatment with an acyclovir formulation employed as a positive control. The Company reported on these studies in April, 2015.
Professor Rosenthal consulted with NanoViricides and TransPharm for the establishment of the animal model for dermal HSV-1 infection using the HSV-1 strain H129c at the TransPharm laboratories.
Existing therapies against HSV include acyclovir and drugs chemically related to it. These drugs must be taken orally or by injection and are not very effective as topical agents. Other drugs are largely ineffective. Currently, there is no cure for any of the herpesvirus infections.
About Dr. Rosenthal
Dr. Rosenthal is now Professor at the Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Medicine, NV. He continues as Professor Emeritus at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), after retiring in December 2014. He is a leading researcher in the field of herpes viruses, antiviral drugs and vaccines. His research interests encompass several aspects of how herpes simplex virus (HSV) interacts with the host to cause disease. His research has addressed how HSV infects skin cells and examined viral properties that facilitate its virulence and ability to cause encephalitis. He is also researching how the human host immune response works against HSV for the development of protective and therapeutic vaccines.
About TransPharm
Transpharm Preclinical Solutions offer numerous types of studies for testing antimicrobials, antivirals, antifungals, antiparasitics, along with newer therapies using antibodies. TransPharm's scientists' skill set covers a broad range of Research and Development. This allows us to offer numerous services upon request. We have many strategic alliances along the Biotechnology Corridor which allows us to offer a wide variety of services.
About NanoViricides:
NanoViricides, Inc. is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide® 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.
Source: http://www.nanoviricides.com