Amarillo Biosciences says study shows human interferon alpha is life-saving in cats

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., Feb. 14 - Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. announced Tuesday that a team of nine Italian scientists has confirmed that low-dose, orally administered human interferon alpha is life-saving in cats with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

The scientists verified that survival of interferon-treated cats was significantly (P < 0.01) prolonged and opportunistic infections were decreased, compared to a placebo, in FIV-infected animals.

In addition, Amarillo Biosciences has arranged to support two animal studies in influenza.

In a study planned in Australia and another study planned in the United States, mice will be given oral interferon or a placebo and challenged with mouse-adapted influenza virus. The company hopes to use the animal data to respond to an influenza pandemic.

At the end of February, Martin Cummins, director of regulatory and clinical affairs for Amarillo Biosciences, will visit Nobel Ilac Sanayii Ve Ticaret AS, a leading Turkish pharmaceutical company. He will participate in final investigatory meetings prior to the enrollment of 90 patients with Behcet's disease begins in a study of interferon lozenges versus placebo. The treatment duration is 12 weeks, with completion of the study expected within a year.

Patients are currently being enrolled in a study at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to evaluate interferon lozenges in patients with the pre-leukemic conditions known as essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera. The first stage of enrollment should be completed by August. The goal of the study is to support and expand on positive data Amarillo Biosciences generated in treating these conditions at the Mayo Clinic.

Finally, the company said that the Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designations to Amarillo Biosciences for oral warts in HIV positive patients, Behcet's disease and polycythemia vera.

Amarillo Biosciences is a biotechnology firm based in Amarillo, Tex.

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