Aethlon Medical Study Links Long COVID to Extracellular Vesicles

The findings suggest that the Hemopurifier®, Aethlon Medical’s clinical-stage device, could effectively address these markers. Researchers utilized Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) affinity resin—the same binding component used in the Hemopurifier—to successfully capture the disease-associated vesicles from plasma samples provided by the University of California, San Francisco’s LIINC study.

Beyond simple capture, the resin treatment reduced seven specific microRNAs linked to inflammatory signaling and immune regulation. Computational analysis indicated that this modulation affects several critical biological pathways, including JAK-STAT and PI3K, which are frequently implicated in the persistence of Long COVID symptoms. While Aethlon Medical currently prioritizes its ongoing oncology trials in Australia, CEO Jim Frakes noted that this data strengthens the case for exploring the device as a broad platform technology. Future preclinical and clinical investigations will focus on whether physical removal of these circulating vesicles can alleviate patient symptoms.