GenoMed's Treatment Saves Country's First Great Horned Owl from Presumed West Nile Virus Encephalitis
CONTACT: GenoMed Inc. David W. Moskowitz, MD, MA, FACP
(314) 983-9933 dwmoskowitz@genomedics.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. LOUIS, MO. – August 3, 2004 – GenoMed, Inc. (Pink Sheets: GMED), a Next Generation Disease Management™ company that uses its expertise in genomics to improve clinical outcomes in as many species as possible, announced today that its patent-pending treatment appears to have saved the country's first Great Horned Owl from presumed West Nile virus encephalitis.
Marge Gibson, Executive Director of Raptor Education Group, Inc. in Antigo, Wisconsin (www.raptoreducationgroup.org) is using GenoMed's approach to treat American bald eagles and other large raptors. On July 21st, a female Great Horned Owl was brought in. The owl was sick, lying down frequently and having occasional seizures. The owl turned her head constantly and her eyes were unfocused, suggesting that she had vestibular neuritis, or inflammation of the balancing organ of the brain. She acted dazed and refused to eat on her own. She had to be tube-fed. Last Friday, July 29th, Ms. Gibson was finally able to get a sample of an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), and gave a dose to the owl. In Ms. Gibson's experience, no Great Horned Owl had ever survived West Nile virus before.
The next morning, Ms. Gibson came in to euthanize the owl, assuming it would be even closer to death. But the Great Horned Owl was standing in her cage with her eyes focused for the first time, and her head held still. When Ms. Gibson offered it a dead mouse she had in her hand for another patient, the owl gobbled it down, followed quickly by another mouse.
Ms. Gibson quickly emailed other raptor rescue groups about the good news.
Said Dr. David Moskowitz, GenoMed's CEO and Chief Medical Officer, "West Nile virus encephalitis looks the same under the microscope in different species. So we'd been hoping that the same treatment would work for birds and horses, as well as for people with an intact immune system. It's reassuring to have dramatic confirmation like this. The response in immunocompetent humans has been just as fast."
Added Dr. Moskowitz, "I really hope more people will hear about our free trial. Every death from West Nile virus saddens me. I can't help thinking, 'If only that person or their family member or friend had heard about our trial in time.' "
To enroll in GenoMed's free trial, just click on the "West Nile trial" link at genomedics.com.
Dr. Moskowitz is a Harvard- and Oxford-educated physician, who trained for seven years in Internal Medicine, Biochemistry, and Nephrology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis before spending 11 years on the faculty of St. Louis University School of Medicine. He is a pioneer in the field of medical genomics, and has been recognized for his groundbreaking treatment of diseases associated with the angiotensin I-converting enzyme, such as chronic renal failure due to hypertension or type II diabetes. Dr. Moskowitz’s research on viruses, including West Nile virus, avian influenza ("bird flu"), and SARS, is regarded as an innovative approach for otherwise incurable diseases.
About GenoMed
GenoMed is leading the clinical revolution which medical genomics has already made possible. GenoMed is a Next Generation DM(tm) [Disease Management] company whose mission is to improve clinical outcomes by identifying the genetic pathways that cause disease. GenoMed is currently marketing its protocol for delaying complications like kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes. Eighty million Americans are at increased risk for kidney failure. So are their pets, especially cats. GenoMed is also marketing its method for delaying emphysema, which 3 million Americans have, and another 60 million smokers are at increased risk of getting.
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