AMARILLO, Texas, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: AMAR), a world leader in the development of oral and topical
interferon, today announced that the August issue of the Journal of Interferon
& Cytokine Research contains 21 review and scientific papers on the oral use
of interferon (IFN) and other cytokines.
Drs. Manfred W. Beilharz and W. Robert Fleischmann, Jr., guest editors,
stated that, "Studies on the use of orally administered interferons (IFNs) to
provide local and systemic effects have been underway for approximately two
decades. An increasing number of investigators have been producing a steady
stream of publications that has carried the field through a period of initial
skepticism by the IFN research community to one of thoughtful consideration."
In his forward to this special topics issue, Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Philip
Marcus stated, "The earliest reports of the use of orally administered IFN
languished because they were received by a skeptical scientific community.
Scientists reasoned that IFN was too susceptible to enzymatic destruction to
exert a significant biological effect following oral administration.
Certainly, it would not be active at the low doses reported to be effective.
This skepticism was bolstered by an apparent lack of species specificity for
IFN administered by the oral-pharyngeal route and the absence of a
biological/molecular basis for the effects reported for this route of
administration.
"The IFNs were discovered because of their antiviral effects. Soon it
became clear that these effects were manifest by the action of only a few
molecules per cell. Thus, the potential was there from the very beginning to
have IFN do what is now reported by the proponents of orally administered IFN,
namely at low doses under physiological conditions. What remains is to
account for these effects in immunological and molecular terms, and to define
the extent to which this mode of administration will be effective as a
prophylactic and/or therapeutic biological response modifier. To this end,
this Special Topics Issue is dedicated to the pioneers of the oral use of IFN
and is a tribute to their tenacity in staying the course."
"We recognized the value of oral interferon long ago and now we have an
extensive patent portfolio with 19 issued US patents granting claims to the
use of low dose oral interferon in numerous clinical conditions," said Dr.
Joseph M. Cummins, President/CEO of Amarillo Biosciences.
Amarillo Biosciences, founded in 1984, is a pioneer in the development of
oral interferon alpha as a treatment for a variety of conditions including
Sjogren's syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, hepatitis B and opportunistic
infections in patients who are HIV positive. ABI is conducting a Phase 3
clinical program in Sjogren's syndrome in the United States and has already
enrolled approximately 270 of the targeted 500 subjects. The Company is also
conducting a clinical trial testing oral interferon for the treatment of
fibromyalgia and approximately 90 of the targeted 120 fibromyalgia syndrome
patients have been enrolled in a confirmatory Phase 2 study.
Low dose interferon has numerous benefits over high dose injectable
interferon, including less fever and milder side effects, lower cost and
convenient oral dosing. "The excellent safety profile generated by the
Company from its numerous clinical trials with oral interferon is a valuable
asset as we seek approval for this new therapeutic paradigm," said Kathleen
Kelleher, Chief Operating Officer of Amarillo Biosciences.
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.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.amacell.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/118055.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 118055
CONTACT:
John M. Smith, Vice President Marketing &
Business Development International of Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.,
806-376-1741 x24, or email, jmsmith@amarbio.com
|
