- Major Threat Treatable With StatC(TM); FDA-Approved Drugs to BeginTesting in U.S. Animal Models
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An internationally renowned avian influenza expert today hailed"encouraging and exciting" results from experiments conducted by his researchteam. This study demonstrated impressive efficacy of a novel statin/caffeinecombination, StatC(TM) in the treatment and prevention of H5N1, H1N1 and H3N2in a mouse model.
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To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/canopusbiopharma/34441/
Dr. Jiahai Lu, from the School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen Universityin Guangzhou, China, has published extensively in the field of avianinfluenza, and has been researching the breakthrough compound StatC(TM) forthe past two years on behalf of Canopus Biopharma (OTCPK:CBIA), a UScorporation who discovered and patented the potential of this antiviralcandidate.
"The global distribution of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenzahas caused the World Health Organization to show its profound concernregarding the possibility of the virus spreading from human to human in thefuture," stated Dr. Lu. "Furthermore, the development of resistance to twoapproved anti-influenza drugs, oseltamivir (Tamiflu(R)) and zanamivir(Relenza(R)), as well as the lack of adequate vaccines has increased the needof developing new antiviral drugs."
"Consequently, I am delighted to be involved in the preclinical researchstage of this innovative antiviral candidate, and look forward to continuingour successful collaboration with Canopus Biopharma in this area."
Dr. Lu and his colleagues have conducted extensive animal studies withStatC(TM) against three influenza strains, H5N1 (avian influenza, bird flu),H1N1 (Spanish influenza) and H3N2 (Hong Kong influenza). StatC(TM) is acombination of two FDA approved compounds which have been re-formulated byCanopus BioPharma for the prevention and treatment of Influenza. Oseltamivirand ribavirin were used as positive controls in this study. In the H5N1model, StatC(TM) prevented and relieved the symptoms of H5N1 infection,inhibited lung damage and H5N1 virus replication in the lungs of mice, andwas as effective as oseltamivir in both prevention and therapy models. Therewere no animals with positive viral detection in the groups nasallyadministered with StatC(TM). Likewise, StatC(TM) demonstrated similar resultsagainst the H3N2 and H1N1 viruses.
"We are encouraged with these findings," said Dr. Lu. "It is possiblethat higher doses of statin than those used in this study may result in evengreater efficacy. StatC(TM) also appeared to be more effective whenadministered preventatively." With current positive results, CanopusBioPharma is looking to form a co-development agreement or licensingarrangements with pharmaceutical companies and Government health authoritiesinterested in providing more economical and universal treatment for theirpopulations in the event of a pandemic.
At the forefront of influenza research in Guangzhou, China, Dr. Lu isperfectly placed to further investigate the synergistic properties of thestatin/caffeine combination. "We are also motivated at the potential of thiscompound in comparison with other currently available anti-influenzamedications. It's clear that there is significant global need for a superior,low cost and plentiful alternative in the fight against influenza." added Dr.Lu. While StatC(TM) has proven to be highly efficacious against the mostvirulent strains of influenza, it must be noted that StatC(TM) is alsoextremely effective against non-fatal, human forms of the virus that occurannually.
Approved by the Food and Drug Administration, oseltamivir (Tamiflu(R)) isthe leading prescription medicine approved for the prevention and treatmentof influenza in adults and children. Datamon
