Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEMD) announced the publication of a peer-reviewed study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences showing that Long COVID patients exhibit significantly elevated levels of mannosylated extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can be captured using the same binding resin incorporated into the company's Hemopurifier device.

The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, analyzed plasma samples from participants in the UCSF Long-term Impact of Infection with Novel Coronavirus study. Key findings include that Long COVID patients had approximately two-fold higher levels of mannose-positive EVs compared with individuals who fully recovered from COVID-19 infection.

Researchers reported that the Galanthus nivalis agglutinin affinity resin used in the Hemopurifier successfully captured small EVs carrying disease-associated glycosylation patterns. The resin treatment also reduced seven circulating microRNAs associated with immune regulation and inflammatory signaling. Computational analysis indicated possible modulation of signaling pathways including JAK-STAT, VEGF, PI3K, and estrogen signaling.

"While the Company's current resources and primary focus remain dedicated to advancing our Australian oncology clinical trial, these findings provide additional translational evidence supporting future preclinical and clinical studies designed to determine whether removal of these circulating extracellular vesicles may benefit patients with Long COVID," said Jim Frakes, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Aethlon Medical.

The Hemopurifier holds U.S. Food and Drug Administration Breakthrough Device designations for advanced or metastatic cancer and for life-threatening viral infections not addressed by approved therapies. The company noted that its primary operational focus remains its ongoing oncology clinical trial in Australia.