Our antiviral development work
Kimer Med is a post-seed biotech start-up, located in Nelson, New Zealand, developing a new broad-spectrum antiviral drug. The compound, which we call VTose®, is a derivative of DRACO, which was tested and found effective in vitro against 15 different viruses in 11 tissue types, and against Influenza H1N1 in mice. We plan to test against SARS-CoV-2, HIV, Hepatitis B, and other human viruses, as well as viruses which affect animals. We then plan to conduct clinical trials and bring this much need medication to market.
The immense harm caused by viral disease
The harm to human life caused by pathogenic viruses, historically and currently, is on an enormous scale. Historically, viruses such as smallpox killed hundreds of millions, perhaps over 300 million as late as the 20th century. The polio virus paralysed over 15,000 annually. The 1918 flu pandemic killed upwards of 100 million.
The numbers really are staggering
More recently, the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) pandemic broke the world and continues to cause massive harm to health and economies. Perhaps 370 million are infected with Hepatitis B, 40 million with HIV, countless millions with Herpes Simplex 1 and 2 viruses, hundreds of millions with Human Papilloma virus, perhaps 400 million with Dengue, and perhaps a billion people are infected annually with strains of the influenza virus.
Vaccines are only part of the solution
While vaccination has been an effective approach to mitigate the spread of many viruses, some viruses have proven difficult to vaccinate against. And viruses with a high mutation rate eventually evade any fixed vaccine, requiring constant revision and re-vaccination.
A broad spectrum antiviral is desperately needed
A very broad spectrum antiviral is an indispensable addition to the arsenal of vaccination. The ideal one would effectively treat an enormous range of viruses, both currently known and unknown future ones, including the very real threat of bio-terror and state sponsored novel bioweapons. Based on the available evidence and our research, we think that such an antiviral is possible.