The Quigley Corporation to Begin Preliminary Testing of Quigley Pharma's Formulation for SARS
Wednesday September 24, 7:34 am ET
DOYLESTOWN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2003--The Quigley Corporation (Nasdaq: QGLY - News) today announced that their formulation, which was developed by their wholly owned subsidiary, Quigley Pharma Inc., and has already been shown to reduce the impact of influenza in both in-vivo and in-vitro studies, is now to be tested against the SARS virus.
Retroscreen Virology Ltd., under the auspices of Professor John S. Oxford, conducted the previous studies on influenza and will now conduct testing of the formulation for SARS. Professor Oxford is Retroscreen's senior scientist and is a professor of virology at St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of London, United Kingdom. He is the co-author of two standard texts on influenza and virology and has published 250 scientific papers throughout the world.
Professor Oxford said, "An independent quality audit of the company's previously conducted in-vitro and in-vivo studies of the new Quigley Pharma formulation confirms that it appears to be effective in killing three virulent strains of current influenza 'A' and 'B' viruses. A paper is currently being prepared for submission to a peer review journal. The current data shows that the Quigley Pharma formulation has a direct effect on the influenza virus, and that in-vivo it was able to modify influenza disease in the model system used, including several important parameters, such as fever and clinical symptoms. Due to the success of these studies, further model studies will be undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the formulation against SARS and to prevent passing on or catching the virus, including the risk of transfer of viruses and its subsequent consequences."
Professor Oxford stated, "We have found the Quigley Pharma formulation to be effective at destroying influenza A and B, herpes and other viruses in laboratory tests. Additionally, using an animal model of influenza, the formulation was able to reduce the severity of the disease and we also found that it markedly reduced animals becoming infected. We are now extending this work to include other respiratory viruses including SARS, to see if the Quigley Pharma formulation may be suitable as a treatment for both existing and future respiratory virus infections. This, if successful, would be a major step forward in the treatment and prevention of respiratory virus infections because of its broadness."
Retroscreen, the independent contract research virology company, specializes in developing anti-viral compounds and vaccines, and has worked with many pharmaceutical companies to assist them in developing products that now help to fight viral diseases worldwide. Additional information is available on the company's website at www.retroscreen.com.
The Quigley Corporation makes no representation that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory agency will grant an IND or take any other action to allow the QR formulation to be studied or marketed. Furthermore, no claim is made that the potential medicine discussed here is safe, effective, or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
About The Quigley Corporation
(Nasdaq: QGLY - News) is a leading developer and marketer of diversified health products including the COLD-EEZE® family of patented Zinc Gluconate Glycine (ZIGG(TM)) lozenges, gums and sugar free tablets. In addition to Over-The-Counter (OTC) products, the Company has formed Quigley Pharma Inc. www.quigleypharma.com, a wholly owned ethical pharmaceutical subsidiary, to introduce a line of patented prescription drugs. The Quigley Corporation's customers include leading national wholesalers and distributors, as well as independent and chain food, drug and mass merchandise stores and pharmacies. Additional information about The Quigley Corporation is available on its Web site at www.quigleyco.com.
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. Factors that impact such forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in worldwide general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, government regulations, and worldwide competition.
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Contact:
Lippert Heilshorn & Associates
John Heilshorn/David K. Waldman , 212-838-3777
dwaldman@lhai.com
or
The Quigley Corporation
Shareholder Relations
Carl Fonash, 267-880-1111
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Source: The Quigley Corporation |
