Nutra Pharma Corp., a biotechnology company that is developing drugs for HIV and multiple sclerosis has announced that its contract researchers, Eno Research and Development, Inc. (ERDI), recently completed their analysis of a series of microarray studies with ReceptoPharm's antiviral drug candidates in healthy immune cells.
"The microarray studies indicate that the exposure of healthy immune T-cells to our antiviral drugs activates the primary immune mechanisms," explained Dr. Paul Reid, CEO of ReceptoPharm, Inc. "The expression of one such immune trigger, interferon gamma, is increased by as much as 20 times, acting as an effective antiviral agent, but without the significant negative clinical side effects of other interferon-based therapies. It has certainly helped explain the broad antiviral activity observed with these types of agents. Based upon this data, these products could conceivably be used to substitute for the flu shot in winter or protect against other contagious viral diseases when vaccines are not readily available," he added.
RPI-MN is the lead antiviral drug candidate of Nutra Pharma's holding, ReceptoPharm, Inc. It is being studied for its potential in treating HIV and other viral diseases.
"These findings could in fact revolutionize the antiviral pharmaceutical industry," commented Rik J. Deitsch, Chairman and CEO of Nutra Pharma Corporation. "Providing patients with a safe, beneficial and cost effective antiviral medicine will allow millions of additional people to obtain treatments that were once out of reach," he concluded.
With the spread of bird flu and worldwide worries about a possible influenza pandemic, antiviral medicines have recently received increased media exposure. During the 2005-2006 flu season, healthcare providers experienced a widespread shortage of the leading antiviral medicine, Tamiflu by Roche (other-otc: RHHBY), which left millions of patients without access to influenza prevention.