NSLIJ Scientists to Present EKC-Cide Study Results at the GTC-Bio Conference on Ocular Diseases and Drug Discovery
WEST HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 21, 2009 - NanoViricides, Inc. (OTC BB: NNVC.OB) (the "Company"), reports that Dr. Vivien Boniuk, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, associated with the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System (NSLIJ), will be presenting additional results from the animal studies on nanoviricide drug candidates against Epidemic Kerato-Conjunctivitis (EKC). These studies were conducted at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research of the NSLIJ. Dr. Boniuk will be speaking at the GTC-Bio Conference on Ocular Diseases and Drug Discovery on April 21 in Philadelphia, PA.
Both of the nanoviricide drug candidates evaluated in this pilot study were found to be clinically highly effective against EKC caused by an adenovirus in the rabbit animal model. Both nanoviricides significantly reduced conjunctival injection (severe redness of the eye) as well as blepharitis (exudate, swelling, matting of fur). NanoViricides, Inc. has previously announced the preliminary findings of the study as they were received by the Company.
In addition to the significant positive clinical findings reported earlier, Dr. Boniuk will also report that the best nanoviricide drug candidate showed excellent long term results. There were no SEI's (Sub-Epithelial Infiltrates) in animals treated with this nanoviricide (0% incidence). In contrast, in vehicle-treated animals, 83% incidence of SEI's was found, and a 100% incidence of SEI's occurred in untreated infected animals. SEI's are caused by local T-cell mediated immune response to the adenovirus, leading to hazy spots in the cornea. Occurrence of SEI's in the human eye can lead to decreased visual acuity for as long as two years. In all the treated as well as untreated infected animals, robust antibody response was observed to occur as measured by antibody titers on day 21. Nanoviricide treatment thus led to both clinical resolution and immune protection against adenovirus. As expected, no antibody response occurred in uninfected animals.
Long term reduction of visual acuity (poor vision) in severe cases of EKC in humans is caused by the occurrence of SEI's. Thus, absence of SEI's is an excellent indication of a strong therapeutic effect for EKC-Cide™ in human EKC.
“These results confirm that our EKC-Cide is likely the best available drug candidate in development against EKC,” said Eugene Seymour, MD, MPH, CEO of the Company, adding, “We are now planning to evaluate its effect against herpes virus infection of the external eye.”
Together, herpesviruses and adenoviruses are the principal causes of serious viral diseases of the external eye. At present, there is no satisfactory treatment for adenoviral keratitis/conjunctivitis. The potential domestic market for an effective drug against all viral infections of the external eye is variously estimated to be from $500M to billions of dollars.
In another news, the Company has updated the Product Pipeline page on its website (http://www.nanoviricides.com/pipeline.html). The Company has also added Prof. Thomas Lentz to the Scientific Advisory Board list on its website (http://www.nanoviricides.com/lentz.html).
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 H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, EKC, 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.
Contact: NanoViricides, Inc.
Amanda Schuon, 310-550-7200
info@nanoviricides.com
Posted: April 2009
