Tamir Biotechnology, Inc. (Pink Sheets: ACEL) (formerly Alfacell Corporation) announced today that scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) reported test results confirming two of our lead compounds outperformed market leader Roche’s drug Ganciclovir in cell culture and plaque reduction assay (the gold standard) for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. Additionally, antiviral activity was also apparent against other human herpesviruses, namely, HSV-1 (cold sores), HSV-2 (genital herpes), and Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) (chicken-pox and shingles).
To determine the effectiveness of a drug, NIAID uses a Selectivity Index (SI) as criteria to determine the potency of a drug. The SI measures CC50 (amount of drug required to kill 50% of uninfected cells) and EC50 (amount of drug needed to cause 50% inhibition of viral replication). CC50 divided by>in vitro results, which were performed in cell culture and in plaque reduction assay (the gold standard) showed significant and potent antiviral effect in a head- to- head comparison against Ganciclovir, which is marketed by Roche and generated revenues of $546 million in 2008.
Within the last several months, we have reported significant results for our compounds against Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, SARS, and now CMV. We are on the cusp of building an impressive drug portfolio that will be targeting viruses where there is currently an unmet need. Besides the fact that our drugs have shown significant antiviral activity against the viruses mentioned above, equally impressive is the fact that very low concentrations of our drugs were needed in order to show this significant antiviral activity.
In the case of CMV, where toxicity is of primary concern for current approved drugs, this has not been the case in the studies performed with our drugs. Moreover, Onconase®, our lead candidate, has been in clinical studies for other indications and has proven to be well tolerated in over 1,000 patients treated to date. NIAID will now be conducting animal studies for Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, SARS, and CMV. Our goal is to enter into clinical trials for these viruses in the near future. “These are very exciting times for our shareholders, primary care physicians, and for those patients suffering from these diseases who for so long, have been waiting for drugs that are safe and effective,” stated Tamir Chief Executive Officer Charles Muniz.
SOURCE Tamir Biotechnology, Inc.