Amarillo Biosciences Enters Into Agreement to Commercialize Low Dose Oral Interferon in Seven Additional SE Asian Countries
Avian Flu Fuels Interest in Low Dose Oral Interferon as Potential Therapy
Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. (ABI) (OTC BB: AMAR) today announced that it had entered into a agency agreement with Dr. Claus Martin, President and CEO, Gesellschaft Fur Medizinisch and Technische Investionen mbH & CoKG (GMTI mbH & CoKG), a privately held German venture capital group, to commercialize low dose oral interferon (natural human IFN) in Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia (the Territory).
Dr. Martin and GMTI, the venture capital group that he heads, have close personal and business contacts in the Territory and plan to work on the commercialization of low dose oral interferon manufactured by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories (HBL) by selecting licensees and distributors in each of the countries of the Territory.
Clinical observations made on thousands of influenza patients in the former Soviet Union, Bulgaria, hina, and Japan have indicated the potential efficacy of employing low doses of natural human IFN to treat influenza. These studies indicate that significant clinical benefits occurred in patients given low doses of interferon intranasally or orally during natural outbreaks of influenza.
Interest in the Company's low dose human IFN has risen with international concern about the potential of the current bird flu outbreak to develop into a pandemic. Health care professionals agree that the public is vulnerable to the impending influenza pandemic. Effective vaccination for influenza is the goal of health officials. However, no vaccine is yet available for the H5N1 virus (bird flu), and the therapies that do exist, such as Tamiflu, are in limited supply worldwide. Consequently, ABI and Dr. Martin and his affiliated company are working together to bring a promising new prevention and treatment option for influenza to the developing world.
"ABI's low dose oral interferon appears to hold some very interesting potential to help individuals to strengthen their immune systems in general, and holds particular promise against influenza" said Dr. Claus Martin. "Accordingly, we are proceeding to use our extensive network in the Territory to partner with groups that will be able to most efficiently commercialize ABI's low dose oral interferon."
ABI President Joseph Cummins said, "The agreement with Dr. Martin's group represents the second agreement to move forward on the commercialization of our low dose oral interferon in Asia, the area where the avian flu has been most prevalent. The commercialization of low dose oral interferon is now being actively pursued in eight Asian countries."
About Dr. Claus Martin and GMTI mbH & GmbH
Dr. Claus Martin is a physician who is the Founder and Director of the Four Seasons Medical Center and Clinic based in Rottach-Egern, Germany and is President and CEO of GMTI mbH & CoKG, a privately held venture capital company specializing in medical-related companies. Dr. Martin is a member of a number of medical societies, including the American College for Advancement in Medicine, and is a founding member of Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Chelat-Therapie. Dr. Martin also serves as a consultant to various medical companies and lectures internationally on biological curative therapies worldwide.
Amarillo Biosciences Licenses Low Dose Oral Interferon to Global Kinetics for Sale in Three Countries in SE Asia Avian Flu Fuels Interest in Low Dose Oral Interferon as Potential Therapy
Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. (ABI) (OTC BB: AMAR) today announced that it had entered into a licensing and supply agreement with Seattle-based Global Kinetics, Inc. to provide low dose oral interferon for sale in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Interest in the Company's low dose oral interferon has risen with international concern about the potential of the current bird flu outbreak to develop into a pandemic. Health care professionals agree that the public is vulnerable to the pending influenza pandemic. Effective vaccination for influenza is the goal of health officials. However, no vaccine is yet available for the H5N1 virus (bird flu), and the therapies that do exist, such as Tamiflu, are in limited supply worldwide. Consequently, ABI and Global Kinetics are working together to bring a promising new prevention and treatment option for influenza to the developing world.
Global Kinetics (www.globalkinetics.net) intends to market ABI's low dose oral interferon through a Cambodian company (Global Kinetics of Cambodia). "Low-dose oral interferon represents an inexpensive, non-toxic modulation of the immune system during, or before, influenza infection. Our first purchase order is expected from the Kingdom of Cambodia so a supply of oral interferon will be available in case bird flu infects government personnel. Government officials in Cambodia have reviewed the clinical observations made on thousands of influenza patients in the former Soviet Union, Bulgaria, China, and Japan. These studies indicate that significant clinical benefits occurred in patients given low-dose interferon intranasally or orally during natural outbreaks of influenza," said Global Kinetics President Jerry Frasier. ABI President Joseph Cummins said, "We are pleased to be working with Global Kinetics and look forward to a long lasting and mutually beneficial relationship."
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 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, 2004.
