SCN to Start Studies on NGNA against Salmon Virus

Recent studies have shown that the natural substance NGNA has good effect on several viruses, especially the virus behind most common colds (rhinovirus) and influenza. One area where viruses have a large impact is salmon farming, and therefore, SCN now plans to start new studies to see if NGNA could be a solution to this problem.

In 2007, SCN secured the world-wide rights to the natural antiviral substance NGNA, for both human and animal treatments. Recent studies, both in advanced laboratories and on mice, have shown that NGNA has good effect on many common viruses that affect humans. SCN now wants to find out if NGNA has the same positive effect on viruses that affect animals, since animal farming is a significant market, and there are few – if any – natural products available today.

“Our studies on mice have shown that NGNA is well tolerated and that the substance has both generic antiviral effects and good results on specific viruses, even dangerous bird flu-like ones. Our main focus will be on developing NGNA against rhinovirus, but with these positive results, is natural for us to look for new and interesting possibilities, both for human and animal use. Viral disease has a great impact on animal farming, as in any environment where many individuals share a limited space. If we can provide a natural compound as a solution, or part of a solution, for such a significant industry, that would be very interesting”, says Dan Edwall, VP R&D at SCN.

“NGNA is a substance with great potential. To get an idea of the size of the market only for rhinovirus, it is estimated that about 80 percent of all common colds are caused by rhinovirus, and in the US only, the cough and cold market is estimated to USD 5.4 billion. NGNA also has low development costs, especially on the safety side, since it is derived from sea cucumber, which already is approved as a foodstuff”, says Anders Struksnes, Senior Vice President at SCN.