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Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2008 New Study Building off Viral Genetics' Research Aims to Unlock the Mysteries behind Lyme Disease and Other Immune Based Diseases Including HIV/AIDS
Gift from Undisclosed Source Will Go towards Study Which Researchers Hope Will Reconcile Long-Standing Debate over Treatment of Lyme Disease
AZUSA, Calif. -- Viral Genetics, Inc. (Other OTC:VRAL), a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies, announced today it has completed an initial study that aims to unlock the mysteries behind Lyme Disease, which could also potentially offer answers to other immune-based diseases including HIV/AIDS.
In addition, a $25,000 gift has been awarded from an undisclosed source to further explore this new model in Lyme Disease through follow-on studies which researchers, including lead investigator Professor M. Karen Newell, PhD, Professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, hope will serve to reconcile the long-standing and controversial debate in the medical community over treatment methods for Lyme Disease.
"Since the addition of Professor Karen Newell to our existing Harvard team and as a result of our recent promising studies with our new model in HIV/AIDS, we have found that the model has potential promise in Lyme Disease," said Monica Ord, SVP of corporate development and communications for Viral Genetics.
"Through the generosity of an undisclosed philanthropist, we will not only be answering key questions for Lyme Disease, but with this new data, the company will also be accelerating our ongoing studies in HIV/AIDS."
Lyme Disease and Testing Challenges
Lyme is mainly found in the eastern United States with smaller risk areas on the west coast. It is caused by the transmission of the Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete via the bite of the blacklegged Ixodes tick. Additional species are found in Europe and northern Asia.
Lyme Disease has been reported in all 50 states with the highest incidence along the eastern seaboard, Wisconsin, Minnesota and northern California. The CDC reports a 100% increase in cases of Lyme Disease in the U.S. from 1991-2006, while recognizing that at least ten times more cases may go unreported. In 2005 alone, 23,305 cases were reported in the U.S.
Regardless of location, primary symptoms of Lyme Disease are characterized by persistent fatigue, chronic musculoskeletal pain, and subjective cognitive slowing. Some authors refute the "chronic" label and instead attribute the symptoms to coincidence of the initial infection.
Lyme testing is a challenge because symptoms vary and often mimic flu-like symptoms. The bite may not immediately result in antibody production so early negative diagnosis is an issue. The organism is also difficult to culture and slow growing to further complicate detection.
Current Methods of Treatment
Initial treatment of Lyme (regardless of stage) has been conventional antibiotics. Most cases caught early are cured by this treatment. Chronic Lyme Disease is that which persists past the conventional antibiotic therapy.
The earlier treatment starts, the greater the chances for a complete recovery, but the difficulty in diagnosis can delay treatment and treatment success.
The Controversy Over Treatment of Lyme Disease
Research on chronic Lyme Disease, including symptoms related to the central nervous system and arthritis, has generated inconclusive and controversial results. Some researchers contend Lyme is driven by chronic infection and recommend patients be treated with antibiotics for the long term.
Others support the hypothesis that the disease is the result of autoimmune T-cell activation that occurs subsequent to the initial infection or after the infection has cleared.
"Our hopes are that the information acquired from this very important study, may act as a bridge between those who contend that Lyme Disease is an active chronic infection and those who feel it is an autoimmune trigger.
The answer to this question is of great importance for all those suffering in the Lyme community. Only through this information can we begin to formulate more successful treatment regimens for the chronically ill," said Dr. Steven Harris, co-investigator, Associate Professor Stanford University.
Study Aims to Unlock Mysteries, Reconcile Debate
The Viral Genetics proposal describes a potentially novel mechanism in which bacterial infection with the pathogen Borrelia burgdorfii activates the immune system.
The new model suggests that the nature of the immune response may be responsible for the pathology of the disease and that targeted peptide therapy has the potential to resolve disease symptoms.
"The model reconciles both the initial disease and accounts for the consequent processes that appear pathologically similar to autoimmune disease, whether the Borrelia organisms survive in the host or not," said Dr. Newell, lead investigator of the study team.
A Gift To Support Further Research
An undisclosed philanthropist has provided a $25,000 gift that will go towards additional research of this new model in Lyme Disease being conducted by Dr. Newell.
"We are so grateful for this gift," said Dr. Newell. "It will allow us to test this new model in initial 'proof of concept' experiments that relate infections with a kind of immune response that develops in certain people, in a genetically determined manner, that may lead to chronic, inflammatory disease. The model provides a different perspective on how both the pathogen and the immune response may contribute to chronic disease instead of full recovery from infection."
Research in HIV/AIDS May Lead to Breakthrough in Lyme
With a commitment to discovering and developing immune-based therapies for HIV and AIDS using its thymus nuclear protein compound (TNP), Viral Genetics' new model was initially proposed solely for HIV/AIDS.
However, by unraveling the mechanism of TNP, Dr. Newell identified its potential promise in other diseases including Lyme Disease.
"This new model shows promise, and we look forward to what further research could potentially yield for the many thousands of people afflicted with this mysterious disease worldwide, and other immune-based diseases such as HIV/AIDS," added Newell.
About Viral Genetics
Viral Genetics, Inc. is a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies for HIV and AIDS using its thymus nuclear protein compound (TNP).
The company recently entered into an Exclusive License Agreement with the University of Colorado and V-Clip Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of the Company) to license technology developed by M. Karen Newell, PhD that appears to explain TNP and provide a means to optimize therapies based on TNP for future clinical trials. TNP may have other potential applications for other infectious, autoimmune, and immunological deficiency diseases that the company intends to study in the future.
Viral Genetics believes that its investigational HIV/AIDS drug based on TNP, called VGV-1, represents a unique approach to treating HIV due to the apparently novel mechanism, low toxicity profile, simple dosing regimen, and short-course of treatment.
As a type of immune-based therapy, it focuses on boosting the immune system to allow the body to fight HIV more efficiently. VGV-1 has been studied in five human clinical trials for the treatment of HIV / AIDS. Online at www.viralgenetics.com
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial projections, budgets, milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory approvals, and other risks described by Viral Genetics, Inc. from time to time in its periodic reports filed with the SEC.
VGV-1 is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world. While Viral Genetics believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions contained therein are reasonable,
any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of Viral Genetics to establish the efficacy of VGV-1 in the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of VGV-1 in the United States,
the obtaining of funding required to carry out the development plan, the completion of studies and tests on time or at all, and the successful outcome of such studies or tests.
Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate.
In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Viral Genetics or any other person that the objectives and plans of Viral Genetics will be achieved.
Marnie
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 773
posted
??? We've had Bb's complete genetic code for several years now.
You can find all the enzymes and pathways Bb takes on the internet...they are listed in Kegg.
Boosting the immune system instead of taming it down (Humira) is, IMO, a very good idea.
Let's start with IV Mg and the 880nM wavelength to recharge the infected cells that Bb is depleting of energy.
Why are the current (recruiting) gov. trials using this wavelength not including lyme disease patients?
Why is the pharm. company in Calif. not yet in trials using gallium maltoate?
Bb has a "PKC inhibitor". When will they "fess up" and acknowledge it is PKCD which is being inhibited? Bb's PKC inhibitor IS, IMO, THE biggest problem. Bb infects our own defense cells and prevents them from working.
Bb needs Mn (and many more nutrients!), but HIV looks to need Mg...whoa...that IS a problem!
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
If you take a look at this companies financial papers you will find that this company is on the verge of bankruptcy.
I'm not saying that they aren't doing something worth while, but it appears that these guys have never had a viable product.
Posts: 158 | From Santa Monica | Registered: May 2007
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