Hank,
Kiss my grits........ggg
Monday November 1, 2:41 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Gum Tech International
Prominent Medical Journal to Publish
Study on Revolutionary Cold Remedy; Zicam Reduced
Duration of Common Cold by an Average of 85%
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The professional peer-reviewed American
Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) will publish the results of a scientific study on Zicam(TM), a
revolutionary over-the-counter homeopathic cold remedy. According to the initial study, a
proprietary nasal solution, currently marketed as Zicam(TM), reduced the duration of the common
cold by an average of 85% and significantly reduced the severity of colds including nasal congestion,
sneezing, coughing, and sore throat.
AJIC, first published in 1973, is the official scientific publication of the American Association of
Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). In addition to peer-reviewed articles
and original research across the field of infection control and epidemiology, including occupational
health and disease prevention, AJIC publishes the official guidelines for infection control practices
produced by APIC and the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
''This initial research on Zicam is quite significant. The term 'cure' is not scientifically applicable since
the common cold is a self-limiting condition, but the degree of efficacy of the medication
demonstrated by this first study is very impressive,'' said Dr. Michael Seidman, MD, FACS, a
medical consultant to the company in the Department of Otolaryngology at Henry Ford Medical
Center, Detroit, Michigan.
The Study
''This initial clinical research showed that participants who used Zicam(TM) at the onset of
symptoms significantly reduced the duration of their colds,'' said Dr. Charles B. Hensley, chief of
research at Gel Tech, LLC. The double blind placebo-controlled study was conducted by scientists
from Gel Tech over a two-cold season period. A total of 104 subjects presenting with at least 3 of 9
cold symptoms for a period of 24 hours or less participated in the study. Patients received a dosage
of either the proprietary nasal gel containing the active ingredient or a placebo 4 times daily. Colds
were determined to be over when all symptoms were resolved. Subjects receiving the active
ingredient found in Zicam(TM) had colds which lasted only 1.5 days on average, while subjects
receiving the placebo had colds which lasted 9.8 days on average.
The Common Cold
The common cold is generally caused by an estimated two hundred viruses known as rhinoviruses
(rhino means nose). These viruses, which primarily infect the upper respiratory tract, may enter the
body through the nose, mouth or eyes, with the infection cycle beginning in the nasal cavity. Inside
the nasal cavity, the virus infects the body by binding to ICAM-1 (Intercellular adhesion molecule-1)
receptor sites located on the cells that line the nasal passageway. The virus enters those cells through
the ICAM-1 binding site, and then uses the cells' own genetic material to replicate and infect the
body. As the virus infects more and more nasal cells, the body's immune system is overwhelmed,
leading to a full-blown cold.
Aside from the personal misery caused by the common cold during the average 10 - 14 day infection
cycle, colds have a significant economic impact on society. Of the estimated one billion common
colds that occur each year in the United States alone, more than 110 million are disabling, causing
approximately 300 million days of restricted activity, 60 million lost days of school, and 50 million
lost days of work. $5.5 billion is spent on colds (not including prescription medicines) each year in
the United States with about $2.3 billion spent on over-the-counter cold remedies.
Zicam(TM)
''Unlike most other OTC and prescription cold remedies, which typically were designed only to
suppress or mask cold symptoms, Zicam(TM) was designed to treat the duration and severity of the
cold,'' said Dr. Hensley. Research suggests that ionic zinc fills the grooves or canyons on the
rhinovirus thus inhibiting or blocking the virus's ability to bind with the ICAM-1 receptor sites on the
cells lining the nasal cavity, preventing or interrupting the infection cycle. Zicam uses a patent-pending
gel matrix to apply a proprietary emulsification of ionic zinc, known as Zinullose(TM), directly to the
nasal cavity.
Zicam(TM) is developed by Gel Tech, LLC, a joint venture between GumTech International, Inc.,
(Nasdaq: GUMM - news) a publicly held company located in Phoenix, AZ and BioDelivery
Technologies, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company. Gum Tech and BDT are devoted to the
development of unique systems for delivering bioactive compounds.
Zicam(TM) is currently available at Drug Stores, Grocery Stores, Pharmacies, Mass Merchants,
Club Stores and Convenience Stores nationwide. For more information, call 1-877-942-2626 or
log onto www.zicam.com.
Gum Tech Forward-Looking Statement:
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the company's anticipated growth in
business and future results of operations. These forward-looking statements are based on the
company's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which
cannot be predicted or quantified and are beyond the company's control. Future events and actual
results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
company's expectations include unfavorable results from pending clinical trials regarding the efficacy
of ZICAM(TM), lack of market acceptance for or uncertainties concerning the efficacy of ZICAM,
a decrease in the level of reorders from existing customers, financial difficulties encountered by one
or more of the company's principal customers, difficulties in obtaining additional capital for
marketing, research and development, and other expenses, the possibility of material charges
incurred as a result of prior activities, aggressive pricing and marketing efforts by competitors,
unavailability of third-party material products at reasonable prices, inventory obsolescence due to
shifts in market demand, and material litigation involving product liabilities and consumers issues.
Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations are
described in the company's reports filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
SOURCE: Gum Tech International |
