I'm posting the full text of the press release here as an archive because links to news on the Internet are often deleted.
Tuesday October 10, 8:09 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Gel Tech LLC
Prominent Medical Journal to Publish Independent Clinical Study on Revolutionary OTC Cold Remedy
Scientific Study Reveals Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy Reduced Duration of Common Cold by an Average of 75%
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The ENT -- Ear, Nose & Throat Journal (ENT Journal), a professional peer-reviewed medical journal, will publish the results of an independent scientific study on Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy, a revolutionary over-the-counter homeopathic cold remedy, in the October 2000 issue. In this study, entitled ``Zinc Nasal Gel for the Treatment of Common Cold Symptoms: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial,'' Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy reduced the duration of the common cold by an average of 75%.
Results from the clinical research, conducted by lead investigator Dr. Michael Hirt, a graduate of Harvard Medical School and a clinical faculty member at UCLA, confirm the findings of the Company's internal study. According to the independent scientific study, Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy reduced the duration of the common cold by an average of 75% when taken at the onset of symptoms, and significantly reduced the severity of cold symptoms including nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing and sore throat.
``The clinical results revealed by the study on Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy are quite impressive,'' said Dr. Hirt. ``We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. The patients receiving Zicam(TM) resolved their cold symptoms significantly faster than the patients receiving the placebo nasal gel. The effect of Zicam on the duration of common cold symptoms is consistent with the results found in the earlier study.''
``Unlike most other cold remedies that were only designed to suppress or mask cold symptoms, Zicam(TM) was specifically designed to treat the duration and severity of the cold,'' said Dr. Michael D. Seidman, Director of the Otolaryngology Research Laboratory, Henry Ford Hospital. ``The difference between Zicam(TM) and other cold remedies is that it is directly applied to the primary source of infection, the nasal cavity. Zicam(TM) continues to prove itself in stringent clinical research.''
Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy was developed by Gel Tech, LLC, a biotech company located in Woodland Hills, California. ``We are very pleased with the acceptance of Dr. Hirt's study in a prominent publication such as the ENT Journal,'' said R. Steven Davidson, CEO of Gel Tech, LLC. ``This news substantiates our initial findings on the efficacy of Zicam(TM) and demonstrates an even greater acceptance of the product by the medical community as a viable treatment for the common cold.''
The ENT Journal
Since 1922, the ENT Journal has provided the most recent peer-reviewed clinical articles and case reports in otolaryngology -- head and neck medicine. Serving as a leading resource for ear, nose and throat information and original research for medical and scientific professionals, the ENT Journal's articles provide needed hands-on information for physicians. All articles submitted to the ENT Journal are peer-reviewed by a prestigious and active editorial review/advisory board. Board membership includes some of the world's leading otolaryngology specialists from over 27 countries.
Zicam(TM)
Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy was specifically designed to reduce the duration and severity of the common cold, including nasal congestion, sneezing and coughing. Colds are generally caused when viruses bind with the ICAM-1 receptor sites on cells lining the nasal cavity. Scientists hypothesize that ionic zinc may fill grooves or canyons on the cold-causing viruses (rhinovirus), inhibiting or blocking the virus's ability to bind to the receptor sites. Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy uses a proprietary gel matrix to apply an emulsification of ionic zinc, known as Zinullose(TM), directly to the nasal cavity.
The Company
Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy was developed by Gel Tech, LLC, a joint venture between Gum Tech International, Inc. (Nasdaq: GUMM - news), a publicly held company located in Phoenix, AZ, and BioDelivery Technologies, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company. Gel Tech, LLC also developed Zicam(TM) Allergy Relief, an over-the-counter homeopathic allergy remedy. Gum Tech and BDT are engaged in the development of unique systems for delivering bioactive compounds.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer:
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the expectation that Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy will provide the same benefits to consumers as it did to participants in the study, and the acceptance of Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy as a viable remedy for the common cold by the medical community. 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 these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the possibility that the favorable results received in the study may not be experienced by consumers, the possibility that competitors may introduce other products that are more widely accepted in the marketplace, and the inability to establish or support the efficacy of the claims made by the Company regarding the use of Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy. |
