Tamiflu is an FDA-approved treatment and prophylactic against influenza and is being purchased and stockpiled by worldwide in anticipation of a feared pandemic influenza outbreak.
ImmuneRegen said if these studies reflect an ability to treat influenza in humans, the administration in conjunction with Tamiflu might reveal additive impact on treating or preventing influenza.
In a previous experiment performed in cotton rats at Virion Laboratories, Viprovex successfully prevented the decreases in temperature and weight in cotton rats exposed to H3N2 avian influenza.
The most recent study confirmed decreases in viral titers in animal nose and lungs correlate with these indications of well-being, which were seen in Viprovex-treated animals despite influenza infection.
“In light of the reproducibility of these findings, and the cytokine data acquired previously, we feel it is prudent to commence a study adding Viprovex treatments to animals being treated post-infection or prophylactically with Tamiflu,” said Hal Siegel, senior director of Product Development and Regulatory Affairs, ImmuneRegen BioSciences.