A local Nelson company, Kimer Med Ltd, are working at developing an exciting broad spectrum anti-viral which can treat a range of viral diseases.
Company communications representative, Andy Glover says, “The goal is to bring an end to the suffering caused by viral disease to both humans and animals.”
The anti-viral compound which is called VTose®, is a derivative of DRAGO which has been tested and found effective in vitro against 15 different viruses in 11 tissue types, and against influenza H1N1 in mice.
The company plan to test against SARS-CoV-2, HIV, Hepatitis B, and other human viruses, as well as viruses which affect animals. They are also conducting the necessary clinical trials here in Nelson.
Kimer Med was awarded a 2021-22 Project Grant from Callaghan Innovation, the New Zealand government’s innovation agency. This funding provides a boost to the ongoing R&D work by reimbursing NZD$150,000 of our eligible expenses over the next two years.
The key idea is to produce a drug that works differently, against a wide range of viruses, not just one and provide another tool in the fight against viral disease.
The company founder Rick Kiessig has a background in biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, software and rocket science. He owned and operated a multi-person consultancy in the Silicon Valley for more than two decades and is an experienced entrepreneur and project manager.
Rick has worked on many high-profile projects for NASA, Lockheed-Martin and other clients. He moved to Nelson with his family in 2006 where, he and his team work on this project in their new science laboratory at their head office.
