Low Dose Oral Interferon Data Presented at International Meeting
- Australian Interferon Expert Reports on Amarillo Biosciences' Product Candidate -
AMARILLO, Texas, April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Manfred W. Beilharz, senior lecturer in molecular biology in the Microbiology Department of the University of Western Australia, president of the Australian Interferon Society and member of Amarillo Biosciences Inc.'s (Nasdaq: AMAR - news) Scientific Advisory Board, yesterday presented additional
confirmatory data on the efficacy of low dose oral interferon alpha at the 1998 conference of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology in San Francisco. Beilharz was invited by the American Society of Immunologists to present the results of his studies. Beilharz presented data showing low dose oral interferon was effective in both the acute and chronic phases of viral infection.
Specifically, the research work presented showed that cytomegalovirus infections in several strains of mice can be controlled during the early or acute phase of the infection. Moreover, a chronic heart condition (virally induced myocarditis) was also controlled by the same low dose oral interferon treatment.
''Whilst we have known for some 12 months that acute viral disease can be treated this way in animal models, the chronic heart disease effects are very exciting,'' Beilharz said. ''Chronic conditions, notably multiple sclerosis, already are treated with very high doses of injected interferon; however, there are significant side effects associated with interferon administered by high dose injection. These new research findings suggest that low dose oral interferon may offer a more patient-friendly means of treatment in chronic disease.
''This research represents a step forward in our understanding of the mechanism of action of our product and helps identify those diseases for which low dose oral interferon alpha may be a treatment,'' said Dr. Joseph M. Cummins, president and CEO of Amarillo Biosciences.
Amarillo Biosciences, founded in 1984, is a world leader in the development of oral interferon alpha as a treatment for a variety of diseases including Sjogren's syndrome, fibromyalgia, opportunistic infections in patients who are HIV positive, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties related to product development, uncertainties related to the need for regulatory and other government approvals, dependence on proprietary technology, uncertainty of market acceptance of oral interferon alpha or the company's other product candidates and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see ''Item 1. The Description of
Business'' of the company's Form 10-KSB for the year ended Dec. 31, 1997. |
