NanoViricides' antiviral candidate NV-387 has shown promise in addressing the global measles surge. Preclinical studies and a completed Phase I trial support its safety and effectiveness. The company plans to explore orphan drug designation and fast track designation. No approved antiviral treatment exists for measles. Cases have increased globally, including in the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU, due to factors like vaccine hesitancy and weakened immune systems. Maintaining herd immunity requires a high vaccination rate, which is becoming challenging even in developed countries.
NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE-AMER: NNVC) has announced that its broad-spectrum antiviral candidate, NV-387, could be a crucial weapon in the fight against the global measles surge. With a completed Phase I clinical trial and preclinical studies supporting its safety and effectiveness, NV-387 is a promising candidate for addressing this growing health concern.
Measles cases have been increasing worldwide, with significant outbreaks reported in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. As of July 22, 2025, the USA had 1,319 confirmed measles cases, breaking the record of 1,274 cases set in 2019 [1]. Canada has experienced a much worse measles season, with more than 3,800 cases to date in 2025. The UK has issued a measles holiday warning, with England alone reporting more than 3,000 cases in 2024. Globally, there have been about 108,000 confirmed measles cases in 2025 to date, compared to approximately 360,000 cases in 2024 [5].
Several factors contribute to the resurgence of measles, including vaccine hesitancy and weakened immune systems. A sustained measles vaccination rate of at least 95% is estimated to be required to maintain herd immunity, but achieving this rate is becoming increasingly challenging even in developed countries [6].
NanoViricides aims to accelerate the development of NV-387 through orphan drug designation and fast track designation. The company is exploring these designations to expedite the approval process and reduce the timeline for bringing NV-387 to market. If successful, NV-387 could become the first approved antiviral treatment for measles, filling a significant unmet medical need.
NanoViricides, a publicly traded clinical-stage company, specializes in the development of broad-spectrum antivirals based on host-mimetic nanomedicine technology. The company's lead drug candidate, NV-387, is being developed as a treatment for RSV, COVID, Long COVID, Influenza, and other respiratory viral infections, as well as MPOX/Smallpox infections [2].
The company's business model is based on licensing technology from TheraCour Pharma, Inc. for specific application verticals of specific viruses. NanoViricides holds a worldwide exclusive perpetual license to the TheraCour® nanomedicine technology for the treatment of various human viral diseases, including measles [3].
While the development of any pharmaceutical product is lengthy and requires substantial capital, NanoViricides is committed to advancing NV-387 into Phase II human clinical trials. The company's platform technology and programs are based on the TheraCour® nanomedicine technology, which has shown promise in preclinical trials and Phase I clinical studies [4].
References:
[1] https://www.morningstar.com/news/accesswire/1053451msn/measles-cases-increasing-worldwide-need-the-new-nv-387-broad-spectrum-antiviral-to-combat-says-nanoviricides
[2] https://www.nanoviricides.com
[3] https://www.nanoviricides.com
[4] https://www.nanoviricides.com
[5] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles
[6] https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccination.html
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