DOYLESTOWN, Pa., May 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quigley Pharma, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Quigley Corporation , announced today that it will begin a series of studies to evaluate the ocular antiviral efficacy and toxicity of its naturally-derived topical compound QR-435. Studies will be completed at The Campbell Ophthalmic Microbiology Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh in the same lab where previous successful in vitro studies of QR-435 were performed.
"Treatments for HSV-1 that are currently available are over 20 years old, and are associated with safety issues," said Richard Rosenbloom, COO and Executive Vice President. "The development of a new, effective, non-toxic topical antiviral would present a significant improvement, and much needed treatment."
Herpes simplex virus type 1 is the leading cause of infectious corneal blindness in industrialized nations, with approximately 400,000 cases in the United States each year alone.
All experiments will be conducted at The Campbell Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh pending IACUC approval. All research on vertebrate animals conducted at the University of Pittsburgh must be approved by the University's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and conform to standards promulgated in the Animal Welfare Act, the United States Department of Agriculture Animal Welfare Policies, the National Academy of Science's "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals," and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
Initial study results were encouraging. In previous studies, QR-435 demonstrated reproducible potent direct antiviral activity against an ocular isolate of HSV-1. It also demonstrated similar potent direct antiviral activity against a second similar ocular isolate of HSV-1 and multiple clinical genital isolates of HSV-2.
Previous in vitro studies conducted at Retroscreen Virology, under the direction of Professor John Oxford, determined that QR-435 had strong antiviral properties against herpes viruses. Based on these results, The Company also has plans to continue testing the QR-435 compound to determine its efficacy against Genital Herpes. This research and development plan will be announced in the future.
The Quigley Corporation makes no representation that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory agency will grant an IND for human study or take any other action to allow the aforementioned compound to be marketed. Furthermore, no claim is made that the potential medicine discussed here is safe, effective, or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
About The Quigley Corporation
is a diversified natural health medical science company. Its Cold Remedy segment is a leading marketer and manufacturer of the COLD-EEZE(r) family of lozenges, gums and sugar free tablets clinically proven to cut the common cold nearly in half. COLD-EEZE customers include leading national wholesalers and distributors, as well as independent and chain food, drug and mass merchandise stores and pharmacies. The Quigley Corporation has several wholly owned subsidiaries. Darius International markets health and wellness products through its wholly owned subsidiary, InnerLight Inc. Quigley Manufacturing Inc. consists of two FDA approved facilities to manufacture COLD-EEZE(r) lozenges as well as fulfill other contract manufacturing opportunities. Quigley Pharma Inc. (http://www.QuigleyPharma.com) conducts research in order to develop and commercialize a pipeline of patented botanical and naturally derived prescription drugs.
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company's actual performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. Factors that impact such forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in worldwide general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, government regulations, and worldwide competition.
CONTACT: Media Investor Relations Karen Pineman Carl Hymans G.S. Schwartz & Co. G.S. Schwartz & Co. 212.725.4500 212.725.4500 kpineman@schwartz.comcarlh@schwartz.com
The Quigley CorporationCONTACT: Media - Karen Pineman, +1-212-725-4500, kpineman@schwartz.com,Investor Relations - Carl Hymans, +1-212-725-4500, carlh@schwartz.com, bothof G.S. Schwartz & Co., for The Quigley Corporation
