http://www.NutraPharma.com Nutra Pharma Reports ReceptoPharm Assays Prove That Experimental HIV Drug May Be Widely Available after Approval
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1-Sep-2004
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 1, 2004--Nutra Pharma Corp. (OTCBB:NPHC), a biotechnology holding company that owns rights to patents and intellectual property related to the development of drugs for HIV and Multiple Sclerosis, has announced today that its minority-owned holding, ReceptoPharm, Inc., has discovered the potential for widely available cobra venoms as a raw material in the development of a treatment for HIV and possibly AIDS. This is a significant discovery as cobras are indigenous where HIV infection is rampant. Cobra venom from different geographical locations has been assayed for effectiveness in inhibiting HIV replication. Venoms from cobras found in Africa and Asia have demonstrated antiviral activity.
"This permits the use of diverse venom sources to produce the drug in a cost-effective way and meet the requirements of the millions in need of treatment," commented Paul Reid, PhD, CEO of ReceptoPharm. "The production of cobra venom for use in antisera manufacturing is well established and could be scaled-up to meet the demands for anti-retroviral therapy. Tens if not hundreds of kilograms of venoms are produced globally and the Company believes that one kilogram could provide as many as one million doses. Our recent efforts in cloning one of the active components should increase drug supply," he concluded.
The key now to a promising new drug is its ability to block emerging drug-resistant HIV strains. The Company is examining this aspect in independent laboratories and feels confident that this should not be a problem. Preliminary research suggests the anti-viral mechanism is independent of current treatment methods. The venom's complexity should also make it more resilient to the development of resistant viral strains.
"The drug already has a well established history in humans so we believe that clinical studies should commence quickly," stated Rik Deitsch, Nutra Pharma's CEO. "By showing that there is a ready supply of natural raw material, ReceptoPharm may be able to quickly supply the drug to patients in the geographic areas most desperate for cost-effective treatment," he added.
ReceptoPharm recently moved into a larger facility and expects to move quickly into GMP production. The Company has near-term requirements for drug supplies to meet clinical trial demands and non-clinical studies. Raw material suppliers in the U.S. have been validated and sufficient venom supplies are available for the current clinical program and early commercialization.
About Nutra Pharma Corp.
Nutra Pharma Corp. is a biotechnology holding company that owns rights to patents and intellectual property related to the development of drugs for HIV and Multiple Sclerosis ("MS"). The Company's minority-owned holding, ReceptoPharm, Inc., is developing these technologies. The Company's majority-owned subsidiary, Infectech, Inc., is engaged in the research and development of diagnostic test kits designed to be used for the rapid identification of infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB) and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI). Nutra Pharma will continue to identify and acquire intellectual property and companies in the biotechnology arena. http://www.nutrapharma.com
About ReceptoPharm
ReceptoPharm, Inc. is a bio-pharmaceutical company developing proprietary therapeutic proteins for the treatment of several chronic, life-threatening viral, auto-immune and neuro-degenerative disorders, specifically including Rabies, HIV, and Myasthenia gravis (MG).
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