Erimos Pharmaceuticals and North Carolina State University have filed a joint patent for use of a developmental of a flu treatment.

Erimos product, EM-1421, which is currently in clinical trials for treatment of malignant tumors, offers promise for mitigating the often fatal complications of multiple influenza strains, among those, avian flu.

Researchers studying the product currently at the NC State Department of Microbiology and at Erimos’ research and development headquarters on NC State’s Centennial Campus believe the properties of Erimos’ lead drug compound EM-1421, could also be utilized in the treatment of certain infectious diseases like influenza.

However, they notes that there is much investigative work yet to be done. The research will evaluate an essential scientific mechanism of action of EM-1421 its ability to modify the body’s extreme immune responses noted to cause lung damage and death in influenza.

Work on avian flu cannot be performed in the United States, that research would be done elsewhere. However, work at Erimos Pharmaceuticals and NC State throughout this year will be undertaken to determine if the drug is efficacious against other flu strains in laboratory experiments. If ongoing laboratory work yields further promise, Erimos will then determine whether to proceed into a clinical testing phase.

Erimos Pharmaceuticals is an emerging company focused primarily on the discovery, development and commercialization of cancer drugs. The company is currently in phase I/II oncology clinical trials with EM-1421 in three U.S. locations: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y.; Premiere Oncology, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and in Nashville, TN. Erimos’ exclusive licensure of NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid) derivatives from The Johns Hopkins University is aimed at creation of selective, effective medications with low toxicity profiles to treat serious diseases.

NC State is a nationally recognized leader in science and technology with historic strengths in agriculture and engineering. It is ranked 6th in technology strength of patents, 7th among national research universities in industry-funded research, 12th among national research universities in non-federally funded research, and has received more than 500 patents for beneficial technologies developed by its world-class faculty.