AMARILLO, Texas, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.
(OTC Bulletin Board: AMAR) and Biopharm Group International with corporate
headquarters in Cairo, Egypt and offices in Herndon and Reston, Virginia
jointly announce the execution of an agreement between the Companies. This
agreement calls for the clinical co-development and marketing of Amarillo
Biosciences' low dose orally administered interferon alpha (IFN alpha) in
conjunction with an antiviral, for use in the treatment of hepatitis C.
Viral hepatitis is a worldwide health problem of enormous proportions and
consequences. It is the most common cause of jaundice, chronic liver disease,
cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It has been estimated by the World
Health Organization that there are 500 million individuals infected worldwide
with one of the six distinct hepatitis viruses.
Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. (ABI) is developing oral and topical cytokines
for the treatment of various human diseases. ABI believes that the use of low
doses of interferons administered orally using a proprietary lozenge
formulation offers significant advantages over the accepted medical practice
of administering injectable interferons at high doses. In addition to the
hepatitis C study which the Companies will initiate later this year in Egypt,
ABI is also conducting a Phase III study in the United States testing the use
of low dose IFN alpha administered orally for the treatment of Sjogren's
syndrome. This study will be completed later this year.
Dr. Joseph M. Cummins, CEO and Chairman of ABI, stated that he is very
pleased to be joining Biopharm in the development of a possible new treatment
for hepatitis. Dr. Cummins stated, "It is clearly obvious that hepatitis is a
health problem facing all countries of the world. I believe that the use of
orally administered IFN alpha may help solve this significant health issue."
Biopharm Group International, a Company with worldwide headquarters in
Cairo, Egypt and offices in Herndon and Reston, Virginia is developing new
medicines from natural products. It has submitted its first drug, a novel
topical antifungal, to the Egyptian Ministry of Health for registration. A
decision is expected by early 2001. It expects to submit for registration in
Egypt 4 additional drugs during the second half of this year. Biopharm, a
privately owned company, has recently completed Phase I of construction of its
state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and research center on the
100,000 square feet of land it owns in 6th of October City outside Cairo,
Egypt. Dr. Osama Kandil, Chairman and CEO of Biopharm, stated, "We at
Biopharm believe that our collaboration with ABI is an important step forward.
We are pleased to be working with ABI and hope that we will jointly be able to
provide a new therapeutic alternative for the treatment of hepatitis C."
Biopharm will be conducting a Phase II/III clinical trial using ABI's low
dose orally administered IFN alpha in conjunction with an antiviral agent in
Egypt. The Companies have jointly developed the clinical protocol for this
trial and plan to initiate the study later this year. Upon the successful
completion of the trial and approval by the Egyptian Ministry of Health,
Biopharm will be responsible for the sales and marketing of ABI's orally
administered IFN alpha in Egypt.
Amarillo Biosciences, founded in 1984, is a pioneer in the development of
low-dose orally administered interferon alpha as a treatment for a variety of
conditions, including Sjogren's syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, hepatitis B
and C and opportunistic infections in patients who are HIV positive.
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, 1999.
SOURCE Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.amarbio.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/118055.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 118055
CONTACT:
Kathleen L. Kelleher, Chief Operating Officer
of Amarillo Biosciences, Inc., 806-376-1741, #15, or email,
kkelleher@amarbio.com; or Dr. Osama Kandil, Chairman & CEO of
Biopharm Group International, 703-404-2300, or email,
okandil@biopharmgroup.com
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