SHELTON, Conn., Dec. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NanoViricides,
Inc. (NYSE MKT: NNVC) (the "Company") reports that it has begun
initial safety and toxicology evaluation of its optimized
nanoviricides® drug candidates developed against varicella-zoster
virus (VZV), the shingles virus. This study is an important
step in the drug development pathway for a treatment for shingles,
a debilitating infection of human skin by VZV. The long term
goal of this project is the development of nanoviricide drugs for
topical dermal treatment of shingles, genital herpes and cold
sores.
The non-GLP safety and toxicology study in rats is being
conducted at AR Biosystems, Beverly, MA. The study will (i)
evaluate the direct effects of topical delivery of the drug
candidates on the skin, (ii) assess if the drugs attain detectable
levels in the blood, and also (iii) evaluate whether there are any
effects on the blood and primary organs, in uninfected
animals. The results of this study will provide the basis and
focus for the IND-enabling GLP safety and toxicology studies that
are required for the IND submission to the U.S. FDA. As a
result of the success of its drug lead optimization process, the
Company has selected two clinical development candidates for
further evaluation in this initial safety/toxicology study.
The Company has previously reported that the nanoviricides® drug
candidates showed marked inhibition of VZV infection, replication
and spread in human skin cultured ex vivo in experiments
performed in the laboratory of Dr. Jennifer
Moffat, SUNY Upstate Medical Center. Since VZV causes
skin lesions, experimental VZV infection of human skin is
considered to be representative of natural VZV infection. VZV is
restricted to human tissue and only infects and replicates in human
tissue. Dr. Moffat runs a leading laboratory studying
disease-relevant models of VZV infection of human skin for
evaluating effectiveness of potential drugs against the shingles
virus.
The market size for anti-shingles drugs is currently estimated
to be in the range of billions of dollars, even though shingles
vaccines are available.
About NanoViricides:
NanoViricides, Inc. (www.nanoviricides.com) is a development stage
company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for viral
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.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that
reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events.
Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those
projected herein and depend on a number of factors. Certain
statements in this release, and other written or oral statements
made by NanoViricides, Inc. are "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which
could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of
activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes no
obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking
statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes
available in the future. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the company's expectations
include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed
under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed
by the company from time to time with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities.
Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such
factors, they may include the following: demonstration and proof of
principle in pre-clinical trials that a nanoviricide is safe and
effective; successful development of our product candidates; our
ability to seek and obtain regulatory approvals, including with
respect to the indications we are seeking; the successful
commercialization of our product candidates; and market acceptance
of our products.
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SOURCE NanoViricides, Inc.