Replies to post #143457 on NanoViricides Inc. (NNVC)

[KMBJN]

NNVC is on many lists of drugs in development for COVID-19:

https://www.bioworld.com/COVID19products

An anti-nCoV nanoviricide program, by using company's nanoviricide technology, for treatment of COVID-19; in January 2020, company started preparations to test candidates in cell cultures against certain known BSL2 coronaviruses, including ones that use the ACE2 receptor; company was seeking to outlicense; in March, completed the synthesis of multiple nanoviricide drug candidates for testing following identification of virus-binding ligands associated with SARS-CoV-2; it is beginning testing against BSL2 coronavirus strains in its virology lab

Interestingly, it is not the only nanomedicine in development against SARS2 virus.

https://www.genengnews.com/a-lists/vanquishing-the-virus-160-covid-19-drug-and-vaccine-candidates-in-development/4/

NanoVirocides

Candidate: Antiviral therapy based on company’s novel nanomedicines platform. ?

Type: Broad-spectrum virus-binding ligand: “It is like a ‘Venus-Fly-Trap’ for the virus,” says Anil R. Diwan, PhD, president and executive chairman.

Status: NanoVirocides on March 16 said it completed the synthesis of “a number of” nanoviricide drug candidates for cell culture testing a few weeks after identification of virus-binding ligands, a result of the company tapping into its inventory of novel custom chemicals, including a polymer backbone that was previously manufactured in multi-kilogram quantities.

NanoVirocides confirmed in January that it was developing a COVID-19 treatment, stating that it “already found some lead candidate ligands in its chemical library” that can bind to the SARS-CoV spike protein just as it binds to cognate receptor angiotensin converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2).

The company’s technology relies on copying the human cell-surface receptor to which the virus binds, and making ligands that chemically attach to a nanomicelle, to create a nanoviricide®. When a virus comes in contact with the nanoviricide, the nanomicelle polymer is designed to fuse with the virus lipid envelope. The company said it has started preparing for testing of potential candidates in cell cultures against “low-threat” coronaviruses, including ones that use the ACE2 receptor, in its own BSL-2 virology laboratory at its Shelton, CT, campus.

NanoViricides added that it is working on developing collaborations to advance its COVID-19 program should an effective drug candidate be identified. If initial work suggests a potential for developing a successful antiviral, NanoVirocides said in a Form 10-Q quarterly report filed February 24, it will pursue a license allowing use for coronaviruses from the license-holder of its technology TheraCour, whose 90% owner is NanoViroCides president and chairman Anil Diwan, PhD.

NanoVirocides also said it acquired and expanded two low-threat circulating coronaviruses in its BSL-certified virology lab, and has already expanded them to enable testing of drug candidates. One coronavirus, NL63, uses the same ACE2 receptor on human cells as SARS-CoV-2, although it does not cause a similarly severe disease in humans. If the test candidates show effectiveness in the cell culture studies against coronaviruses, the company reasons, that would provide a strong rationale for expecting they would be effective against SARS-CoV-2.

NanoVirocides added that it also successfully developed antiviral drug testing assays based on cell culture infection of low-threat coronaviruses in the BSL2 lab—a feat accomplished in a few weeks due to the expertise of senior virologist Brian Friedrich, PhD.