Aethlon Medical Announces Publication of Preclinical Data Showing That the GNA Affinity Resin in the Hemopurifier® Binds to Extracellular Vesicles in Long COVID patient samples and Decreases Inflammatory microRNAs
Rhea-AI Summary
Aethlon Medical (Nasdaq: AEMD) reported a preclinical ex vivo study (preprint posted 20 Nov 2025) showing the Hemopurifier's GNA affinity resin binds extracellular vesicles (EVs) in Long COVID plasma and decreases seven EV-associated microRNAs linked to inflammatory pathways.
The study found elevated large (100–500 nm) and small (40–200 nm) EVs in Long COVID samples versus recovered controls, increased mannose-positive large EVs, and correlated removal of small EVs by GNA resin. Pathway analysis suggested reduction of inflammatory signaling including JAK-STAT and increased tissue-repair signals. The paper is submitted for peer review.
Positive
- GNA resin bound both large and small EVs in Long COVID plasma
- Seven EV-associated microRNAs were significantly depleted by GNA resin
- Removal of microRNAs linked to JAK-STAT inflammatory pathway
Negative
- Study is ex vivo preclinical data posted as a preprint, not peer-reviewed
- No clinical outcomes or patient treatment data demonstrating benefit
- No data in this report showing reduction of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles
News Market Reaction – AEMD
In the Dec 2 session, AEMD gained 14.87%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +40.1% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -24.5% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 44 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. Trading volume was exceptionally heavy at 40.1x the daily average, suggesting very strong buying interest.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 05 | Private placement | Negative | -1.0% | At-the-market private placement and warrant inducement for $3.3M gross proceeds. |
| Dec 02 | Preclinical COVID-19 data | Positive | +14.9% | Preclinical ex vivo Long COVID data showing Hemopurifier GNA resin alters EV microRNAs. |
| Nov 12 | Earnings and update | Positive | -3.2% | Fiscal Q2 results with cost cuts, smaller loss, and clinical progress in oncology and Long COVID work. |
| Nov 07 | Earnings call notice | Neutral | -1.6% | Announcement of timing for Q2 results release and conference call with Hemopurifier overview. |
| Oct 08 | Oncology trial update | Positive | +4.0% | Early Australian oncology Hemopurifier data showing EV and microRNA changes in three patients. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Dilutive or financing events have seen modest negative reactions, while positive clinical/COVID-19 data have generally produced positive price responses.
Over the last few months, Aethlon moved from preliminary oncology trial observations in October 2025 to fiscal Q2 results with $5.8M cash and a 48% cut in operating expenses. It regained Nasdaq bid compliance after reverse splits and continued developing the Hemopurifier for oncology and viral indications. A prior Long COVID-related preclinical update on Dec 2, 2025 produced a double‑digit gain, contrasting with a mild selloff after the recent $3.3M private placement. This announcement extends the Long COVID mechanistic story built with UCSF.
Key Terms
extracellular vesicles medical
microRNAs medical
Galanthus nivalis agglutinin medical
JAK-STAT medical
affinity resin technical
plasma separation technical
size exclusion technical
pre-print technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Results Support the Further Investigation of the Hemopurifier in Long COVID
Long COVID refers to persistent symptoms following acute SARs-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). These symptoms - including fatigue, post-exertional malaise, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cognitive difficulties such as "brain fog" - may last for weeks or months after the initial illness. Long COVID is estimated to affect between 44 and 48 million people in
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanoparticles 50-500nm in diameter, released from all cell types and involved in cell-to-cell communication, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Long COVID. EVs have been found to contain viral particles and other cargo including microRNA which are tiny molecules that regulate the amount of proteins made and have been associated with abnormal blood clotting and inflammation.
Aethlon Medical's Hemopurifier® is an investigational extracorporeal device designed to bind and remove harmful EVs from the blood through a combination of plasma separation, size exclusion and binding to a proprietary affinity resin containing the plant lectin Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), previously found to bind to the sugar mannose.
The Hemopurifier has previously been shown to remove EVs and decrease microRNAs in a patient with severe acute COVID-19 infection. Aethlon Medical collaborated with the University of California San Francisco Medical Center Long COVID clinic to evaluate plasma samples from participants with Long COVID and control participants who had recovered from COVID-19. Large (100−500 nm) and small (40−200 nm) EVs were isolated from plasma samples to determine ability to bind to GNA (mannose positive) or be removed by the GNA affinity resin, respectively. Plasma of those with Long COVID contained elevated levels of both large and small EVs. Mannose-positive large EVs were significantly increased in Long COVID patient samples comparison to recovered controls. Removal of small EVs by the GNA affinity resin correlated with mannose positive large EVs indicating the same glycan target for removal by the Hemopurifier was present in both populations. NanoString analyses identified seven EV associated miRNAs significantly depleted by GNA affinity resin treatment of plasma. The use of Pathway activity interference software indicated that removal of these microRNAs may be associated with downregulation of inflammatory pathways, including JAK-STAT, and upregulation of tissue repair pathways.
"The data from this ex vivo study is exciting because it demonstrated for the first time that the GNA affinity resin in our device removes extracellular vesicles in Long COVID patient samples and removes microRNAs associated with the JAK-STAT pathway which is a therapeutic target in current Long COVID clinical trials. We plan to further this work by examining if removal of EVs decreases SARSs -CoV-2 viral particles as viral persistence is thought to be an additional important pathogenic mechanism in Long COVD" said Steven P. LaRosa, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Aethlon Medical and senior author on the paper. "While Oncology is our lead clinical indication, this pre-clinical provides additional evidence that EV removal is a target beyond cancer. We see the potential of the Hemopurifier as "a pipeline within a single device" "said James Frakes, Chief Executive Officer at Aethlon.
About Aethlon and the Hemopurifier®
Aethlon Medical is a medical therapeutic company focused on developing the Hemopurifier, a clinical stage immunotherapeutic device which 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
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 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
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
917-513-5303
View original content:SOURCE Aethlon Medical, Inc.