AMARILLO, Texas, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Some of the most
significant medical advances in recent decades have come in the area of drug
delivery systems -- the time release capsule, the oral contraceptive, the
transdermal patch, the French fry ... The FRENCH FRY??!!
Well, maybe not quite yet -- but it could happen soon if an option
agreement announced today by Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.
(OTC Bulletin Board: AMAR), bears fruit. The agreement -- signed by AMAR with
scientists, a research institute, a biochemical company and an agricultural
cooperative in Japan -- will seek to exploit a recent discovery involving the
transgenic delivery of human interferon alpha through potato plants. Japanese
researchers found that two subtypes of human interferon alpha could be
expressed in transgenic potato plants (Journal of Interferon & Cytokine
Research 21:595-602, 2001). Now, Amarillo Biosciences will help evaluate the
commercial possibilities of using such plants to grow potatoes containing
human interferon alpha, which can then be fed to humans and animals, thereby
efficiently delivering controlled doses of the drug. The potato leaves or
tubers will have to be fed raw, because cooking will probably inactivate the
interferon.
"This exciting invention fits into our efforts to develop low-dose, orally
administered interferon alpha for man and animals," explained Dr. Joseph M.
Cummins, President and CEO of Amarillo Biosciences. "We are eager to partner
with inventors Dr. Chihiro Sugimoto and Dr. Takeshi Matsumura; Hayashibara
Biochemical Laboratories, Inc.; Hokkaido Green-Bio Institute and Hokuren
Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives to commercialize this technology." As
reported at the Xth International Congress of Plant Tissue Culture and
Biotechnology (June 23-28, 2002) by Dr. Sugimoto, human interferon alpha
expressed in the potato plant is more efficiently utilized than human
interferon alpha given orally. In addition, said Dr. David O. Hutcheson, a
noted animal nutritionist, "Interferon given orally to cattle, swine, poultry,
horses, dogs and cats has been shown to be beneficial and safe. Breeding
interferon into plants may solve the problem of having to restrain animals to
deliver the medication."
About Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.
Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. is a pioneer in the research 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. Additional information is available on the Amarillo Biosciences,
Inc. web site at http://www.amarbio.com . 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 December 31, 2001.
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
CONTACT:
Dr. Joseph M. Cummins, President & CEO of
Amarillo Biosciences, Inc., +1-806-376-1741, ext. 13, or
jcummins@amarbio.com
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