Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome are emerging as serious global health problems. Dengue is endemic in large parts of the world. It now threatens over 3 billion people world-wide or 40% of world population, and is considered a re-emerging threat in the United States. Dengue is officially considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. About 50-100 million people are infected by dengue virus every year. In fact, just recently, the government of Cali, Columbia declared a dengue emergency because of the number of dengue infections and deaths. Globalization and warming climates along with changes in the ecology of the virus-carrying mosquito are accelerating the spread of the virus. Without proper treatment, DHF fatality rates can exceed 20%. (Source: WHO Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever Fact Sheet No. 117, March 2009; who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs117/en/).

Using computer modeling, the Company has developed a library of small chemical ligands that bind to dengue virus envelope proteins. Using these ligands, a number of candidate nanoviricides that are capable of attacking the dengue virus have been developed. The Company believes that these nanoviricide drug candidates mimic the natural, common attachment function by which the four different dengue virus serotypes bind to the body ™s host cells.

We are very excited about this association with the Harris Lab, said Dr. Eugene Seymour, MD, MPH, CEO of the Company, adding, We will now be able to rapidly advance our anti-dengue therapeutics program.

SOURCE NanoViricides, Inc.