Beating a Global Killer: HIV/AIDS

GLENDALE, Calif., April 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Immunotech Laboratories, Inc.

Immunotech Laboratories announces successful Participation in DART conference in Puerto Rico with its abstract “Irreversible Pepsin Fraction (IPF) displays significant antiretroviral activity via specific novel cytokine stimulation in vitro investigation of activity on human lymphocytes.”

Additionally, Immunotech will present at the 5th European Conference on Clinical and Social Research on AIDS and Drugs, with its abstract titled “IPF displays significant Antiviral activity in vitro without provoking the presentation of resistant profiles of minority subspecies.”

H. Zhabilov (1), M. Selbovitz, D. Miller (2), J. Gibbs

(1) Immunotech Laboratories, California, USA, (2) AIDS Institute, New York, USA

Background

Resistance to all commercially available antiretroviral (ARV) agents within all classes has been reported. The occurrence of multi-class resistance remains high, with 20% of infected individuals developing resistance to two or more classes within six years of initiating treatment, and 10% of newly diagnosed infections already resistant to at least one class in the U.S. Multi-class resistance is even more prevalent in disenfranchised patient populations, whose rates of successful adherence to even the most simplified regimens available remains prohibitively low.

IPF, like other natural autoantibody based fractionated proteins, has an affinity to pathogenic binding and simultaneously produces effects of immune homeostasis in the presence of replacativly competent HIV. IPF has shown significant antiretroviral activity via immune stimulatory pathways in vitro, notably helper Th-1 cells elaborate cytokines INFy, IL-2. These cells selectively promote cell-mediated immune responses that are disadvantageous to viral replication with selection for the pathogenesis of resistant profiles of minority subspecies.

Methods

Flow cytometric analysis of these cells was conducted using DC monoclonal antibodies and Annexin-V. A Biacore assay system that measures changes in the surface mass concentration was used to determine interactions between IPF molecules and CD4+ cells. Changes were expressed in resonance units (RU), with one RU representing a change in concentration of 1 pg/mm. T-cells were purified from peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) cells using antibody coated magnetic beads.

Results

According to David Miller, V.P. Governmental Affairs and Clinical Development of Immunotech Laboratories, and founder of ACT UP HIV/AIDS activist group, “Laboratory analysis indicates that IPF is able to mediate maturation of dendrite cells in vitro, as determined by up-regulation of MHC class-ll, CD86 and CD83 molecules, regulate pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12 and INFy, and enhanced T-cells’ stimulatory capacity. Observable characteristics include modulation of complement activation, saturation of Fc receptors on macrophages, and suppression of various inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and chemokines. IPF demonstrated increased synthesis of Th-1 cells. IPF displayed spontaneous binding with gp41 when prepared for gel electrophoresis, and subsequent fusion inhibition of HIV with CD4+ cells and increased gp41 and gp120 antigenic activity. Virus-specific CD8 cells were stimulated. Flow cytometric analysis revealed apoptosis in CD4+ cells and stimulation of virus-specific CD8 cells.”

Conclusions

According to Harry Zhabilov, Chief Science Officer of Immunotech Laboratories, “IPF appears to modulate helper Th-1 cells’ expression of elaborate cytokines INFy, IL-2, which selectively promote cell-mediated immune response and subsequently stimulate cytotoxic lymphocytes. These lymphocytes have a prominent role in the host’s immunologic response to HIV infection. Proteins encoded by these pathogens enter the endogenous pathway for antigen presentation and are expressed on the surface of the infected cell as a complex with class l MHC-proteins. IPF appears to present a novel mechanism to reduce viral burden and stimulate innate immune responses to the virus for patients with significant antiretroviral resistance. We are honored to have been invited by both the DART and 5th European Conference on Clinical and Social Research on AIDS and Drugs to share our findings for IPF with colleagues in the research and medical communities.”

Further information can be obtained from www.immunotechlabs.com

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial projections, budgets, milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory approvals, and other risks described by Immunotech Laboratories, Inc. from time to time in its periodic reports filed with the SEC. IPF is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world. While Immunotech Laboratories believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions contained therein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of Immunotech Laboratories to establish the efficacy of IPF in the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of IPF in the United States, the obtaining of funding required to carry out the development plan, the completion of studies and tests on time or at all, and the successful outcome of such studies or tests. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, Immunotech Laboratories or any other person that the objectives and plans of Immunotech Laboratories will be achieved should not regard the forward-looking statements as a representation.

    Ara Ghanime
    818-409-9091
    info@immunotechlabs.com

SOURCE Immunotech Laboratories, Inc.