Before there was Covid-19, viruses like Zika were baffling the medical community and the world, of course. Today, the Zika virus market is worth approximately US$17 billion; yet, it has no treatment. Hopefully, that may not be the case for long as life-sciences company Invion (ASX: IVX) has announced that its patented tech Photosoft^TM has shown positive activity against Zika in preliminary assays following in vitro studies.

Some Photosoft compounds demonstrated potent (over 99% inhibition) antiviral activity against Zika when exposed to specific light wavelengths. Plus, the activity resulted in low levels of cell toxicity. Compared to Monensin—an antibiotic used widely among Zika patients, Photosoft compounds displayed over 100 times more activity on the virus.

The studies were undertaken by research and clinical laboratory service company Viroclinics-DDL and Virology Research Services Ltd. It showed that Photosoft was effective against the virus and provided better results than Monensin, which was used as a benchmark during the study.  

Invion’s Chairman and CEO, Thian Chew, commented, “This is the first set of studies we have undertaken using Photosoft^TM compounds on infectious diseases and we are very excited by not only the positive results, but by the potential for the technology in an era where the next global pandemic could be lurking around the corner.”

Originating in Uganda, the Zika virus is now found in 86 countries, particularly in Asia and Africa, and has been associated with birth defects and neurological complications. Its prevalence has garnered quite the market for it, valuing at $25 billion, and it is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% to 2027.

The virus is primarily transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also transmits yellow fever and dengue. People who contract Zika typically display symptoms such as headache, skin rash and joint pain. Among the primary ways to protect yourself from Zika, local governments recommend people to use mosquito repellent, wear full-sleeved clothing and avoid specific hot spots. People are urged to protect themselves given that there is no treatment for the virus or its related diseases as of yet.

That may soon change if Invion’s continued studies go as planned. The Company holds the exclusive rights to the Photosoft technology in Asia Pacific for the treatment of infectious diseases and atherosclerosis through its agreement with the technology licensor, RMW Cho Group Limited.

Chew concluded, “With the continued emergence of new viral diseases in recent years, it is important that companies like Invion continue to focus on developing new innovative treatments. We are also exploring other viral indications to determine the potential for other viruses of interest.”

Having witnessed the impact of a pandemic, we now know how quickly untreatable viruses can quickly lock the world down, highlighting the importance of timeliness in development of treatments for new viruses.