Neuramide inhibits Epstein-Barr Virus-induced Transformation.

Does anyone know what neuramide is? Is it still available in Italy? @lartista, have you ever seen this is in Italy?

The full article says that something similar was being developed in the US but doesn't name it and I can't find anything on it...

Any ideas?



Antiviral Res. 1997 Feb;33(3):177-85.
Neuramide inhibits Epstein-Barr virus-induced transformation activity and proliferation of transformed B lymphocytes.
Venanzoni MC1, Angeloni A, Di Muzio M, Faggioni A, Frati L.
Author information

Abstract
Neuramide, in Italy, is a prescription drug and contains various polypeptides, with molecular weights ranging between 10,000 and 1,000. It is commonly used in Italy for the clinical therapy of varicella-zoster and other viral herpetic diseases. In the present study, we investigated its effect on the in vitro transformation activity and transformed status of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), ab herpesvirus closely associated with infectious mononucleosis (IM), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). Antiviral effects of neuramide were evaluated on viral-induced immortalization, transformed status and DNA synthesis. Our results show that simultaneous and/or post-treatment of EBV-infected lymphocytes with neuramide, at a concentration of 2 inhibiting units (IU)/ml, blocks EBV-mediated transformation and related events, whereas pretreatment does not show any inhibiting activity against EBV. Neuramide was also found to be a potent inhibitor of the proliferation of EBV-transformed B lymphocytes in vitro. These results suggest that the molecular mechanisms of action of the drug should be investigated more closely and also support the necessity to further purify the active polypeptides, in order to improve its possible in vivo efficacy in EBV-associated diseases, such as infectious mononucleosis and other lymphoproliferative diseases.

PMID:

9037374

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

It's listed as in Italian pharmacies.

The polypeptides are extracted from pig stomach. The mechanism of action seems to be stimulation of the immune system, but it also appears to stimulate the endocrine system. This information may be unreliable or highly speculative.

Neuramide is an antiviral porcine stomach extract, and Kutapressin (Nexavir) is an antiviral porcine liver extract...

Looks like pigs are a good source of antivirals!