NanoViricides president backs FDA's targeted COVID booster policy shift

NanoViricides (NYSE-A:NNVC) president Dr Anil Diwan has welcomed a new US Food and Drug Administration policy that limits broad COVID-19 vaccine booster recommendations, calling it a “rational and scientific” shift that could help restore public trust in health institutions.

The updated FDA guidance recommends COVID booster shots only for adults aged 65 and older, and for individuals aged six months and above with underlying conditions that put them at risk of severe disease. The agency also said it would now require randomized, placebo-controlled trials to demonstrate booster effectiveness in healthy adults before extending approvals to that group.

“Evidence-based decision making about vaccine boosters policy for COVID is a welcome change over broadcast vaccine recommendation for all,” said Diwan, who is also executive chairman of the NYSE American-listed antiviral developer.

The revised approach contrasts with earlier policies under which COVID vaccines were authorized for nearly all individuals over six months old, prompting universal vaccination guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite the recommendations, vaccine uptake in recent years hovered around just 25% of eligible individuals.

“Over years of exposure, the population has built immunity due to multiple infections from ever-changing COVID variants as well as multiple vaccinations,” Diwan said. “An additional booster dose in such population would only make sense if a clear benefit can be proven.”

The FDA's move brings its policy in line with many other developed nations, though an estimated 100 million to 200 million Americans still qualify for boosters under the agency’s criteria due to the broad inclusion of comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, and even mood disorders.

Diwan said that broader availability of effective antiviral treatments could further reduce the need for frequent vaccination.

“We believe that when a highly effective antiviral drug against COVID becomes available, the need for vaccination will decrease substantially,” he said. “Our broad-spectrum antiviral drug NV-387 is poised to become an important solution for multiple viral threats that emerge every season, including Influenzas, Coronaviruses, RSV, MPox, and possibly even Measles.”

NanoViricides is developing NV-387 as part of its pipeline of antiviral treatments targeting a wide range of viral infections.