NanoViricides Inc. today announced that in a recent animal study, the company’s lead anti-HIV nanoviricide candidate demonstrated efficacy equivalent to a highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HARRT) drug cocktail, a combination therapy often recommended as initial therapy in humans with HIV.
The study demonstrated that NanoViricides’ lead anti-HIV nanoviricide successfully reduced HIV levels and protected human T cells in a manner consistent with the HAART cocktail.
The company said it believes its candidate differs from current components of HAART therapy on a cellular level that would complement and enhance various HAART regimens. While there is no cure for HIV, NanoViricides said it is led to believe that the combination therapy, which would include HIVCide™, could serve as a functional cure of HIV/AIDS.
According to the company’s press release, a “functional cure” will allow a person with HIV to maintain a “normal” lifestyle even after they discontinue therapy. The company noted that this functional level is one of the primary goals of HIV/AIDS therapy.
“Creating an adjunct drug that acts by a novel mechanism complementing the current HAART therapy is becoming extremely important. The HIV virus mutates constantly resulting in failure of HAART therapy regimens. In some countries, it has now mutated to such an extent that in up to 40% of patients the standard HAART therapy has become ineffective,” Eugene Seymour, MD, MPH, the CEO of NanoViricides stated in the press release. “HIVCide would present a highly effective option for these patients in particular, and to all HIV-infected persons in general.”
The company reported that no evidence of drug toxicity was observed and that it will move forward with further optimization.
“We are pleased with the results of this study in which the best nanoviricide candidate was as good as HAART cocktail therapy,” said Anil R. Diwan, PhD, president of the company. “… The results of the current study have provided important insight to guide the next cycle of chemical optimization. We clearly know now that we are on the right path.”
The study was performed using the standard SCID/hu-Thy/Liv mouse model, and was conducted as part of the company’s lead optimization process in the HIVCide program.
For more information visit nanoviricides.com
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NanoViricides (NNVC) achieves Positive Clinical Results for Lead anti-HIV Candidate
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