Earlier publications have described DAS181's activity for Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) and highly pathogenic avian H5N1, as well as for IFV resistant to neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) such as Tamiflu?® (oseltamivir).  Unlike NAIs or vaccines, which both target the virus ("pathogen target"), DAS181 works by inactivating the human receptors ("host target") to which viruses bind; thus, drug resistance may be less likely to emerge compared with currently-available antiviral drugs.  In addition, NexBio has recently presented data from three independent studies in animal models of asthma, done with academic collaborators, demonstrating DAS181's potential benefit for airway diseases.

DAS181 is currently being studied for influenza in a human phase II clinical trial funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health, NIH) and monitored by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board. This investigational drug is also being studied in patients with the respiratory conditions asthma and bronchiectasis in a trial conducted by NIAID at the NIH Clinical Center.  This latter trial examines the effects of DAS181 in subjects with well-controlled or stable pulmonary disease.  

SOURCE NexBio, Inc.