- New patent would extend coverage and expand potential value of Virios' antiviral pipeline globally –

- Active Long-COVID characterized by immune dysfunction leading to recurrent herpesviruses reactivation -

- Published data indicates increased Epstein-Barr herpes virus in Long-COVID patients, highlighting potential for antiviral therapy to treat fatigue and other Long-COVID symptoms –

ATLANTA, March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virios Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIRI) (the "Company"), a development-stage biotechnology company focused on advancing novel antiviral therapies to treat debilitating chronic diseases, including fibromyalgia ("FM") and Long-COVID ("LC"), today announced that the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published Virios' global patent application titled "Valacyclovir and Celecoxib for the Treatment of Alzheimer's and COVID-19", which covers the use of IMC-2, a proprietary combination of valacyclovir and celecoxib. This milestone enables Virios to streamline the process for obtaining patent protection globally, representing a precursor to the national phase of patent examination by targeted countries across the globe.

An open-label, exploratory LC study sponsored by Virios demonstrated that treatment with the combination of valacyclovir and celecoxib resulted in clinical and statistically significant reductions in LC associated fatigue, orthostatic intolerance, pain and anxiety. Combination treatment with valacyclovir and celecoxib is presently being assessed in a double blind, placebo-controlled study under the direction of Dr. Lucinda Bateman, MD, supported by an unrestricted, investigational grant provided by the Company to the Bateman Horne Center. Results from this important trial are expected this summer.

The 2024 National Center for Health Statistics Household Pulse Survey estimates that 17.6% of the US population have experienced LC, representing upwards of 45 million potential adult patients, since the pandemic started in November of 2019. Previous estimates suggest that up to 10 million children in the US have also experienced LC. There are no treatments approved by the FDA to treat the symptoms associated with LC, further highlighting the need for new treatments.

A multitude of studies suggest that while LC is a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, the development of LC seems related to immune system dysfunction and complement activation. It has been postulated that an exhausted immune response to COVID-19 enables reactivation of previously dormant herpesviruses. Reactivated herpesviruses such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may be associated with fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. Fatigue and cognitive dysfunction are predominant LC symptoms.