Ainos, Inc. announced the topline results from its COVID-19 antiviral efficacy study in hamsters (the "Study"). The available results show that its low-dose oral interferon alpha ("IFN-a") formulation, VELDONA, has a protective effect on lungs infected with the SARS-CoV-2 (the "Delta variant") virus by regulating the immune response, thus expediting recovery of infected animals. The Company will begin to prepare the application documents for U.S. FDA Phase 2/3 clinical trials.

The Study evaluates the effectiveness of VELDONA over a seven-day course of treatment of Delta-variant-infected hamsters. Compared with hamsters in the control group receiving solution without VELDONA (the "Control Group"), the hamsters in the group receiving solution with VELDONA (the "VELDONA Group") demonstrated resistance to body weight loss during the first four days, then showed a similar recovery trend in the following two days. The body weights of the hamsters in the VELDONA Group remained more stable than those of the hamsters in the Control Group.

Among the symptoms exhibited by hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2 are interferon dysregulation and loss of body weight. VELDONA increases the secretion of interferon in the body, thereby enhancing immunoreaction.