Replies to post #53822 on NanoViricides Inc. (NNVC)

[Ubertino]

Doc - what do you think of this - a sialic acid using antiflu proposal of NexBio - a sialic attachment BLOCKER:

FLUDASE®
Fludase®* (DAS181) is a broad-spectrum drug candidate under study for the potential prophylaxis and treatment of respiratory infections caused by all types of influenza virus, including the Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) that recently caused a worldwide influenza pandemic, as well as all types of parainfluenza virus. Fludase is currently undergoing a Phase II clinical trial in the U.S. for the treatment of community acquired influenza (click here for detailed information on this trial), as well as a Phase I trial in subjects with airway disease being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center (click here for detailed information on this trial).

MECHANISM OF ACTION: FLUDASE® BLOCKS IFV ENTRY INTO CELLS
Fludase is a recombinant fusion protein (see Figure 1) that inactivates viral receptors on the cells of the human respiratory tract, thereby preventing influenza and other viruses such as parainfluenza from both infecting the human body and amplifying in already-infected individuals.

Sialic acids on the surface of cells lining the human respiratory tract act as the host cell receptors for all influenza and parainfluenza viruses. Fludase works by inactivating these sialic acid receptors on the airway epithelium, therefore preventing viral entry into cells.

Because these viruses primarily invade and replicate in cells of the upper and central respiratory tract, Fludase is administered through oral inhalation to these locations. The fusion protein consists of two parts: a sialidase plus a cell-surface anchoring domain. The anchor is designed to attach to the respiratory epithelium and thereby increase retention time and drug potency. Fludase is delivered by a simple generic device called “Cyclohaler.”

http://www.nexbio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67:solutions-fludase&catid=34:static-content&Itemid=61

NNVC attracts the virus using sialic acid as an ATTRACTANT while NexBio BLOCKS the sialic acid connection. Not identical, I know, but somewhat similar. I assume (!!) that this approach works for ALL viruses (any, at any rate, that use sialic acid attachment points) - one drug - BWDIK!

Another somewhat strange development involving NexBio:

NexBio Reports Positive Data from Test of Biologic Flu Drug
publication date: Aug 30, 2011
NexBio, a San Diego biotech startup, has released positive data from a Phase II trial of a novel biologic that aims to both treat and prevent infection by all flu strains. The drug works by inhibiting entry of the virus into cells. NexBio was formed by a China husband-wife team who did their early academic work in China, and then moved to the US to earn biology PhDs. NexBio has been in the news recently because the FBI conducted a very public raid on the company’s offices, though neither the FBI nor the company has explained the object of the raid.

http://www.chinabiotoday.com/articles/20110830

[TheDane]

Perhaps the docs can make the cides into "medical food" which does not require FDA approval? Check this out...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904199404576538582281006022.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_health

Vanilla-cide shake? Choco-cide for HIV?

[seeker_of_value]

DrFeelGood, you raise a good point. You said

"One can be infected with H1N1 and 5 years later a new H1N1 poses a threat. What then? Use the H1N1 DRACO and it will kill all the healthy cells that survived the previous infection. Is this really a slam dunk similar to targeting only viruses?"

I have two questions:

(1) It seems to me that Draco is broad spectrum, that is it will attack all cells that are virus infected. So that means there is no H1N1 Draco, there is only one Draco. Regarding your post, Draco will kill all virus infected cells, not virus immune cells. The cells that have become immune to previous H1N1 are immune cells not cells with previous H1N1 virus. So why would Draco kill those?

(2) The question of toxicity still haunts me. Our viricides have been claimed to have no toxicity. However, I have only seen only one publication which is about the Ebola virus. That poster said that there was a small amount of toxicity to viricides. So how comfortable are you with the claim that viricides have no toxicity?

I have not posted in a few weeks. After my last series of posts I had a phone call with Dr. Seymour and now I feel much more comfortable with investing in NNVC. I have subsequently doubled my position. More or less it is NNVCs lack of money that has created the slow pace. They are now prepared to go much more rapidly. That still remains to be seen. It seems that Seymour would have already filed the IND, the only reason it is being delayed is that they have been told to be super careful since they only get one chance with this filing. Seems like a prudent thing to do, but there is a limit to being prudent. One has to go forward, you cannot be so careful that the pace become glacial. At every stage we will get only one chance to file (IND, phase 1, phase 2, phase 3, NDA etc.)

Seeker