The thionation technology is a process for transforming an oxo group (>C=O) in a compound into a thio group (>C=S). By thionating drug compounds, the characteristics can be changed including for example improved stability and delivery, which can result in a more potent or selective agent. The thionation method has been used in our Influenza project.

By thionating antiviral substances, using our own thionating reagent and process, new drug candidates with improved antiviral activity can be created. This strategy was used to create our anti-Influenza drug candidates, VNFC051 and VNFC045, by thionating Nucleozin derivatives. The properties of the new molecules were altered, including longer half-lives with maintained antiviral activity against common Influenza strains.

Vironova Medical´s compound B-220, first discovered over 4 decades, demonstrates a potent broad-spectrum antiviral activity against several viruses from the herpes family i.e. HSV-1, HSV-2, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Varicella zoster virus (VZV). B-220 appears to inhibit viral replication at different stages of the virus life cycle, and is more effective compared to Acyclovir. B-220 is approved for topical administration in a US patent