AMARILLO, Texas, April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of
Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. (ABI) has approved an agreement to work with
Molecular Medicine Research Institute (MMRI) of Mountain View, CA and its
founder, Dr. Ed Amento, on the further development of medical treatments using
low dose human interferon gamma. Dr. Amento and Dr. Joseph Cummins, President
and CEO of ABI, are co-inventors of a US patent application entitled, "Low
Dose Interferon Gamma Compositions and Their Use for Treatment of Interferon-
Sensitive Diseases."
A high dose, injectable formulation of interferon gamma has already been
approved for the treatment of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a
congenital disorder of the immune system of children and for the treatment of
osteopetrosis, a life-threatening disorder causing the overgrowth of bony
structures. Interferon gamma is also under study for use in treating several
other potentially fatal maladies including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,
multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis and fungal diseases such as
cryptococcal meningitis.
"Our goal is to develop a low dose formulation of interferon gamma that
will provide therapeutic benefits and induce far fewer side-effects without
requiring systemic administration," said Dr. Cummins.
Dr. Amento agreed with that assessment, adding, "We are pleased to have
the opportunity to work with Amarillo Biosciences in the development of a
novel formulation of interferon gamma that may enhance the lives of patients
with life-threatening disorders."
The Molecular Medicine Research Institute, a not-for-profit organization,
was founded in 1995 to utilize the most recent advances in cellular and
molecular biology, immunology and medicinal chemistry to enhance the
understanding of human disease. MMRI uses a multi-disciplinary approach to
focus on the immunological and connective tissue abnormalities associated with
diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, scleroderma and cancer and
age-related diseases such as osteoporosis.
Amarillo Biosciences, founded in 1984, is a pioneer in researching the use
of low dose orally-administered interferon-alpha as a treatment for a variety
of conditions including Sjogren's syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, Behcet's
disease, hepatitis B and C, and opportunistic infections in patients who are
HIV positive. ABI is conducting a Phase III clinical program in Sjogren's
syndrome in the United States.
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.
Description of Business" of the company's Form 10-KSB for the year ended
Dec. 31, 1998.
SOURCE Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.
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CONTACT: Kathleen Kelleher, Chief Operating Officer, 806-376-1741, #15, or email, kkelleher@amarbio.com, or Philip C. Fox, D.D.S., Director of Research & Development, 301-320-8200, or email, pcfox@amarbio.com, both of Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.
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