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WF10 Granted Full Approval By Thailand Government - Full Version:
Business Wire - September 15, 1997 16:15
DIMETHAID-RESEARCH DMX. %NEW-YORK V%BW P%BW
MARKHAM, ONTARIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1997--(TSE DMX ) Dimethaid Research Inc.
(TSE - DMX) and Oxo Chemie AG announced today that the Thailand Ministry of Public Health
has granted full approval for WF10 as an immune modulator for enhancement of
cell-mediated immunity and treatment of radiation therapy complications.
As a result, WF10 will be commercially available in Thailand for patients with immune
deficiencies.
"The approval of this unique immune modulation therapy by Thailand's Ministry of Public
Health is a significant confirmation of the validity and efficacy of WF10 and demonstrates
their concern that this treatment be immediately available to everyone who needs it," said
Rebecca Keeler, President and CEO of Dimethaid Research. "Thailand has been exceptionally
hard hit by the AIDS epidemic and we are encouraged that they have now approved this new
approach to treatment," Mrs. Keeler added.
"What is particularly encouraging about this approval is that it marks the first time that
Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has taken the lead in approving an ethical drug," said Dr.
F. W. Kuhne, President and CEO of Oxo Chemie. The approval is based upon favourable results
from seven years of clinical investigations in open label studies with immune compromised
patients using WF10. In a presentation at an international workshop on immune modulation
in May 1997, Dr. S. Tansuphaswadikul, principal investigator in an open study conducted with
HIV positive patients, stated "after six years of follow up, 89% of patients enrolled in this
study who had not yet progressed to the final stage of HIV disease, were long-term
non-progressors and did not develop severe opportunistic infections or malignancies." Dr.
Kuhne added, "WF10 has proven to be an exceptionally safe drug. We believe that patients
will be thankful that the Thai government has recognized the success of this treatment."
WF10 has been tested in two Phase II trials in the U.S., one of which was completed in late
1995 and the other, a mechanism of action study, was completed earlier this year with the
analysis currently being conducted. Results from this latest study are expected later this
year.
Dimethaid Research currently owns 20 percent of Oxo Chemie and holds all distribution
rights to WF10 in Canada. Dimethaid is a pharmaceutical company engaged in the
development and commercialization of innovative therapeutic products which work with the
body's own healing mechanisms. The Company's major product under clinical development, in
addition to WF10, is PENNSAID(TM), a topical arthritis pain relief medication. Marketing
approval for PENNSAID(TM) has been sought in both Canada and the United Kingdom.
CONTACT: Dimethaid Research Inc
Peter Block, 905/415-1446
pblock@dimethaid.com
www.dimethaid.com |
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