Adventrx says Thiovir active against H5N1 avian influenza chimeric virus strains

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., March 20 - Adventrx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. said it performed additional preclinical studies demonstrating that the company's broad spectrum antiviral drug, Thiovir, is active against a chimeric avian/human influenza virus and influenza A.

Thiovir's activity against these viruses was confirmed by preclinical tests conducted in-house and at two independent laboratories, according to a company news release.

The chimeric viruses tested include a research-adapted strain based on influenza A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) and Ann Arbor/6/60, with cytopathic and direct viral detection-based assays used to test Thiovir activity.

Adventrx plans to further investigate Thiovir efficacy against multiple H5N1 strains of avian influenza in both in vitro and in vivo studies in collaboration with a Biosafety Level 3+ certified laboratory, the release stated.

"We are encouraged by the results from two independent labs confirming Thiovir activity against multiple influenza viruses," president and chief executive officer Evan M. Levine said in the release.

Adventrx said it plans to submit results its studies, as well as additional planned preclinical studies, to the 14th International Symposium on HIV and Emerging Infectious Diseases program to be held in France this June.

Adventrx is a San Diego-based biopharmaceutical research and development company focused on introducing new anticancer and antiviral treatments.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.