We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Nanoparticle Traps Represent a Radical New Method for Treating Viral Infections

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 20 Jan 2014
An Israeli biotechnology start-up company is researching a radically different approach to the problem of preventing and curing viral infections.

Traditional drug treatment attempts to destroy viruses after they already have invaded host cells and caused significant damage by initiating the disease process (fever, nausea, diarrhea, etc.) in the infected individual. More...
A radically new approach to cure viral infections is under development at Vecoy Nanomedicines (Kiryat Ono, Israel).

The Vecoy (a virus decoy) is an artificial nanoparticle coated with viral receptors. The virus reacts to the nanoparticle in the same way it would to a normal target cell, but once trapped inside, it is immobilized and prevented from spreading the infection. Thus, the Vecoy technology successfully addresses the two major challenges of current medication, namely, virus resistance to treatment and toxicity effects.

Results of cell-culture and preclinical studies in Vecoy’s laboratories demonstrate neutralization of 97% percent of viruses in culture with efficacy expected to rise as the technique is refined. The method is patent pending and funding is being secured to conduct animal trials.

“Viruses are one of the most polymorphic and resilient organisms out there,” said Dr. Erez Livneh, CEO of Vecoy Nanomedicines. “They are rapidly changing, and can change anything in their genome, either by changing their exterior so our immune system would not recognize them or by changing their enzymes so that the handful of drugs we have will not affect them anymore. With the current state of overpopulation of our planet and international flights, we are now prone more than ever before to new viral pandemics which will be very hard to contain, and it is just a matter of time. We had better be in a position where we can do something about it.”

Related Links:

Vecoy Nanomedicines



Gold Member
Quantitative POC Immunoassay Analyzer
EASY READER+
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
PlGF Test
Quidel Triage PlGF Test
New
Gold Member
Serological Pipets
INTEGRA Serological Pipets
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
These images illustrate how precision oncology Organ Chips recapitulate individual patients’ responses to chemotherapy (Photo courtesy of Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.