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Aethlon Medical Announces Publication Demonstrating Novel Long COVID Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target for the Hemopurifier®

(Positive)
Tags
covid-19

Aethlon Medical (Nasdaq:AEMD) announced peer-reviewed research identifying a novel Long COVID biomarker and target for its Hemopurifier® device. The study found significantly increased mannosylated extracellular vesicles (EVs) in Long COVID patients, which were captured using the same Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) affinity resin used in the Hemopurifier.

Key findings include roughly two-fold higher mannose-positive EVs in Long COVID, successful capture of disease-associated small EVs, significant reduction of seven immune-related microRNAs after GNA resin treatment, and pathway analysis implicating JAK-STAT, VEGF, PI3K, and estrogen signaling. The results support EVs as a potential therapeutic target and provide a translational framework for future Hemopurifier studies in Long COVID.

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Positive

  • Peer-reviewed Long COVID study identifies mannosylated extracellular vesicles as potential Hemopurifier® target
  • Long COVID patients showed approximately two-fold higher mannose-positive extracellular vesicle levels
  • Disease-associated small extracellular vesicles captured using Hemopurifier’s GNA affinity resin
  • GNA affinity resin treatment significantly reduced seven immune-related circulating microRNAs
  • Pathway analysis linked EV changes to JAK-STAT, VEGF, PI3K, and estrogen signaling in Long COVID
  • Findings support Hemopurifier® as a potential platform technology across multiple disease areas

Negative

  • None.

News Market Reaction – AEMD

-2.01%
6 alerts
-2.01% Session close to close
+4.0% Peak Tracked
-11.2% Trough Tracked
$2.32M Market Cap
0.3x Rel. Volume

In the Jun 26 session, AEMD declined 2.01%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +4.0% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -11.2% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 6 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement adds peer‑reviewed support for targeting mannosylated EVs in Long COVID and for th...
Analysis

This announcement adds peer‑reviewed support for targeting mannosylated EVs in Long COVID and for the Hemopurifier’s GNA resin platform. With prior COVID‑19 news showing mixed price impacts, funding needs and potential equity dilution remain key risks to monitor.

Key Figures

EV level increase: two-fold higher levels microRNAs reduced: 7 circulating microRNAs
2 metrics
EV level increase two-fold higher levels Mannose-positive extracellular vesicles in Long COVID vs recovered controls
microRNAs reduced 7 circulating microRNAs Reduced after treatment with GNA affinity resin in Long COVID samples

Previous Covid-19 Reports

2 past events · Latest: Dec 02 (Positive)
Same Type Pattern 2 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Dec 02 Long COVID data Positive +14.9% Preclinical Long COVID data showing GNA resin binds EVs and lowers microRNAs.
Sep 03 COVID-19 patents Positive -17.7% New U.S. and European Hemopurifier patents for Long COVID and CAC treatment.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

COVID‑19/Long COVID news has produced mixed reactions, with one strong rally and one sharp selloff on broadly positive updates.

Key Terms

extracellular vesicles, galanthus nivalis agglutinin (gna) affinity resin, microRNAs, jak-stat, +2 more
6 terms
extracellular vesicles medical
"patients with Long COVID exhibit significantly increased levels of mannosylated extracellular vesicles"
Extracellular vesicles are tiny, cell-made particles—think microscopic bubbles—that carry proteins, genetic material and signals between cells. Investors care because these vesicles can be used as disease markers, drug-delivery vehicles, or therapeutic products; that creates opportunities and risks around clinical validation, manufacturing scale-up, intellectual property and regulatory approval that can materially affect the value of biotech and diagnostics companies.
galanthus nivalis agglutinin (gna) affinity resin medical
"captured using the same Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) affinity resin incorporated"
A galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) affinity resin is a specialized purification material that uses a plant-derived protein to grab and hold onto certain sugar patterns on viruses or other unwanted particles, like a sticky sieve that catches specific pests while letting desired proteins pass. Investors care because this kind of resin is used in manufacturing and safety testing of biologic drugs and blood-derived products—its effectiveness and regulatory acceptance can affect product safety, production yields, costs, approval timelines and ultimately a company’s revenue and risk profile.
microRNAs medical
"GNA affinity resin treatment significantly reduced seven circulating microRNAs associated"
microRNAs are tiny pieces of genetic material that act like dimmer switches for genes, turning down the production of specific proteins inside cells. Investors pay attention because microRNAs can be used as diagnostic markers or drug targets—meaning discoveries can create new tests, treatments, or business opportunities, and progress or setbacks in that research can materially affect a company’s clinical prospects and valuation.
jak-stat medical
"pathways implicated in Long COVID, including JAK-STAT, VEGF, PI3K, and Estrogen signaling"
JAK-STAT is a cellular communication pathway in which enzymes called Janus kinases (JAKs) activate STAT proteins to switch genes on or off, regulating immune activity, cell growth and inflammation. Investors watch it because many drugs aim to block or boost this pathway to treat cancers, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases; success or failure in developing, testing, or approving such drugs can materially change a biotech company's value, like targeting a light switch that controls cell behavior.
vegf medical
"pathways implicated in Long COVID, including JAK-STAT, VEGF, PI3K, and Estrogen signaling"
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a naturally occurring protein that signals the body to grow new blood vessels, like a fertilizer prompts plants to sprout. It matters to investors because drugs that block or mimic VEGF can dramatically change outcomes for cancers and eye diseases, making them major drivers of clinical trial results, regulatory approvals, market value and future revenue potential for biopharma companies.
pi3k medical
"pathways implicated in Long COVID, including JAK-STAT, VEGF, PI3K, and Estrogen signaling"
PI3K is an enzyme inside cells that acts like a traffic signal for growth and survival signals, helping control how cells multiply and respond to their environment. It matters to investors because drugs that block or modify PI3K activity are a major class of therapies in development for cancers and other diseases; successes or failures in PI3K-targeting trials can significantly affect a biotech’s value and future revenue prospects.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Peer-reviewed study identifies altered extracellular vesicles in Long COVID and provides additional scientific rationale for evaluating the Hemopurifier® as a potential treatment

SAN DIEGO, June 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEMD), a medical therapeutic company focused on developing products to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases, today announced publication of new peer-reviewed research in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences demonstrating that patients with Long COVID exhibit significantly increased levels of mannosylated extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can be captured using the same Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) affinity resin incorporated into the Company's Hemopurifier®.

The study, conducted in collaboration with investigators from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), provides what we believe is new evidence supporting extracellular vesicles as a potential therapeutic target in Long COVID and helps establish a translational framework for future studies evaluating whether the Hemopurifier can remove disease-associated EVs and their molecular cargo.

"The publication of this study contributes to the scientific understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying Long COVID while strengthening the rationale for evaluating the Hemopurifier in this significant area of unmet medical need," said Jim Frakes, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Aethlon Medical. "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. More broadly, we believe these findings reinforce the potential of the Hemopurifier as a platform technology with potential applications across multiple disease areas.  We believe there exists a 'pipeline within a single device.'"

Key Findings

Among the study's principal findings:

  • Patients with Long COVID had approximately two-fold higher levels of mannose-positive extracellular vesicles than individuals who recovered fully following COVID-19 infection.
  • Small extracellular vesicles carrying disease-associated glycosylation patterns were successfully captured using GNA affinity resin, the active binding component of the Hemopurifier.
  • GNA affinity resin treatment significantly reduced seven circulating microRNAs associated with immune regulation and inflammatory signaling.
  • Computational pathway analysis suggested modulation of several biologically relevant signaling pathways implicated in Long COVID, including JAK-STAT, VEGF, PI3K, and Estrogen signaling.
  • The findings help establish a mechanistic link between disease-associated extracellular vesicles and the Hemopurifier's lectin-based capture technology.

The research analyzed plasma samples from participants enrolled in UCSF's Long-term Impact of Infection with Novel Coronavirus (LIINC) study.

The full peer-reviewed article, titled "Increased Mannosylation of Extracellular Vesicles in Long COVID Plasma as a Binding Target for Galanthus nivalis Agglutinin (GNA) Affinity Resin," appears in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences at https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/13/5723

About Aethlon and the Hemopurifier®
Aethlon Medical is a medical therapeutic company focused on developing the Hemopurifier, a clinical-stage immunotherapeutic device that is designed to combat cancer and life-threatening viral infections, and for use in organ transplantation. In human studies, the Hemopurifier has demonstrated the removal of life-threatening viruses, and in pre-clinical studies, the Hemopurifier has demonstrated the removal of harmful EVs from biological fluids, utilizing its proprietary lectin-based technology. This action has potential applications in cancer, where EVs may promote immune suppression and metastasis, and in life-threatening infectious diseases. The Hemopurifier is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated Breakthrough Device indicated for the treatment of individuals with advanced or metastatic cancer who are either unresponsive to or intolerant of standard of care therapy, and with cancer types in which EVs have been shown to participate in the development or severity of the disease. The Hemopurifier also holds an FDA Breakthrough Device designation and an open Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application related to the treatment of life-threatening viruses that are not addressed with approved therapies.

Additional information can be found at www.AethlonMedical.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements containing words such as "may," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will," "projections," "estimate," "potentially," or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Aethlon's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Factors that may contribute to such differences include, without limitation, the Company's ability to determine whether the Hemopurifier has utility in additional disease indications, including Long COVID; the Company's ability to raise additional capital and to successfully complete development of the Hemopurifier; the Company's ability to successfully demonstrate the utility of the Hemopurifier in cancer and infectious diseases and in the transplant setting; the ability of the Hemopurifier to continue to show removal of platelet -derived EVs at a timepoint equivalent to a 4-hour HP treatment; the manuscript described in this release being under review and may be rejected for publication, require substantial revision, or be interpreted differently by the scientific community; the Company's ability to achieve and realize the anticipated benefits from potential milestones; the Company's ability to submit applications to and obtain approval from the additional Ethics Committees in Australia, including on the timing expected by the Company; the Company's ability to continue its oncology clinical trial in Australia, including on the timing expected by the Company; the Company's ability to manage and successfully complete its clinical trials, if initiated; the Company's ability to successfully manufacture the Hemopurifier in sufficient quantities for its clinical trials, and other potential risks. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is illustrative, but is not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2026, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not intend, nor does it undertake any duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances. The preclinical findings described herein are preliminary in nature and may not be replicated in subsequent studies or clinical trials.

Company Contact:
Jim Frakes
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Aethlon Medical, Inc.
Jfrakes@aethlonmedical.com

Investor Contact:
Susan Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com

 

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aethlon-medical-announces-publication-demonstrating-novel-long-covid-biomarker-and-potential-therapeutic-target-for-the-hemopurifier-302811447.html

SOURCE Aethlon Medical, Inc.

FAQ

What Long COVID discovery did Aethlon Medical (AEMD) announce on June 26, 2026?

Aethlon Medical announced peer-reviewed research identifying increased mannosylated extracellular vesicles in Long COVID as a binding target for its Hemopurifier® GNA affinity resin. According to Aethlon Medical, these findings support extracellular vesicles as a potential therapeutic target and offer a framework for future Hemopurifier studies.

How are extracellular vesicles altered in Long COVID according to Aethlon Medical (AEMD)?

According to Aethlon Medical, Long COVID patients showed approximately two-fold higher levels of mannose-positive extracellular vesicles versus fully recovered individuals. The research also found that small extracellular vesicles carrying disease-associated glycosylation patterns could be captured using GNA affinity resin, the active binding component of the Hemopurifier®.

What role does the Hemopurifier GNA affinity resin play in Aethlon Medical’s Long COVID research?

The Hemopurifier’s GNA affinity resin captured mannose-positive extracellular vesicles and reduced seven immune-related circulating microRNAs in Long COVID plasma samples. According to Aethlon Medical, these data link disease-associated vesicles to its lectin-based capture technology and support evaluating Hemopurifier in future Long COVID studies.

Which signaling pathways were implicated in the Aethlon Medical (AEMD) Long COVID study?

Computational pathway analysis suggested modulation of JAK-STAT, VEGF, PI3K, and estrogen signaling pathways in Long COVID samples treated with GNA affinity resin. According to Aethlon Medical, these pathways are biologically relevant to Long COVID and help build a mechanistic rationale for targeting extracellular vesicles.

What does the new Long COVID biomarker research mean for Aethlon Medical’s Hemopurifier platform?

According to Aethlon Medical, the findings provide additional translational evidence that the Hemopurifier may target disease-associated extracellular vesicles in Long COVID. The company believes this supports viewing Hemopurifier as a potential platform technology with applications across multiple disease areas, a “pipeline within a single device.”

Where was Aethlon Medical’s Long COVID Hemopurifier® research published and what study was used?

The peer-reviewed article appeared in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences and analyzed plasma from UCSF’s LIINC Long COVID cohort. According to Aethlon Medical, the study titled “Increased Mannosylation of Extracellular Vesicles in Long COVID Plasma” details the GNA affinity resin binding results.