Tests evaluating Viprovex as a potential influenza infection treatment were conducted at Virion Systems, a Maryland biotechnology corporation. The company believes that preliminary results of Viprovex treatment of cotton rats infected with the H3N2/Wuhan human influenza virus were strong enough to support further research into the drug.
Viprovex treatment reduced nasal and lung titers one- to two- logs (90+ %) compared to infected but untreated controls. In addition, treated animals appeared to lose less weight than untreated infected animals and appeared to regain normal body weight more rapidly. Additionally, Viprovex treated animals appeared to have less change in body temperature then untreated animals.
The compound is thought to work by a modulation of cytokine activation and in the enhancement of innate immunity to influenza. Additional studies are presently underway in this and other influenza model systems to confirm and expand these results.