Hemispherx Biopharma to Present New Data on Activity of Ampligen in Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at Annual CFS Conference

Rarely do I write about potential treatments for ME/CFIDS. The reason I am posting a copy of this report is because attention to Ampligen seems to have grown over the past few years. When I come across any quality reports on Ampligen, I will update this post with links.

Here is a copy, in full, of the report dated, September 27, 2004, entitled "Hemispherx Biopharma to Present New Data on Activity of Ampligen in Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at Annual CFS Conference".

[Please note, I am not posting the report here on Ampligen because I think it could provide hope for ME sufferers. I am sceptical about any treatments that aim to fight a virus. After five years of suffering from a severe form of ME, I do not believe there is a virus present in my body; if a virus is involved, I believe it has been, gone and left its damage behind. But of course I could be wrong. My feelings lean towards the 70 years of documented evidence that pinpoint ME as being non-paralytical polio, most likely caused by an Enterovirus such as Coxsackie B virus.]

Compares Activity of Ampligen(R) to Alzheimer Drug for Potential Treatment
 
Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (AMEX:HEB), a leading developer of immune based therapies to treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and HIV/AIDS, announced today that it will present new data on controlled testing of Ampligen(R) at the upcoming International CFS meeting in Madison, Wisconsin on October 9, 2004.

Hemispherx's drug, Ampligen(R), an experimental immunotherapeutic, demonstrated medically and statistically significant increase in the primary endpoint, exercise treadmill duration, compared to placebo after a 40 week period. The Company, at the Conference, will present additional data on its clinical activities.

A number of drugs have been tested, and reported upon, in the treatment of CFS. In the current issue of JAMA, Dr. C. V. Russell Blacker from Exeter, UK and colleagues assessed the outcome of 434 CFS patients who were treated with one of four doses of Reminyl, which is manufactured by Shire Phamaceuticals or with an inactive "placebo". After 16 weeks of treatment, there were no statistically significant differences between any Reminyl or placebo groups in clinical condition on the primary end point, Clinician Global Impression Scale, or for any of the secondary end points. Exploratory regression analysis failed to detect any consistent prognostic factor that might have influenced the primary or secondary outcome measures, as reported in the September 8, 2004 Journal of the American Medical Association.

"We remain encouraged that our protocol is the only one that addresses the large unmet medical need of patients with CFS," said William Carter, M.D. "We look forward to initiating steps designed to bring this product to market as rapidly as possible."

About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

CFS is defined by various governmental agencies worldwide as a serious debilitating disease in which patients suffer from complex symptoms, primary profound fatigue which severely limits daily activities. The CDC has added CFS to its top priority list of emerging infectious diseases. CFS is a worldwide disease estimated to affect over 500,000 people in the U.S. and a similar number in Europe and Asia.

About Ampligen(R)

Ampligen(R) is an experimental, double stranded RNA drug acting potentially as an immunomodulator and antiviral. Based on in vitro studies, Ampligen is believed to modulate the immune system as well as inhibit viruses directly. The experimental product is currently in a Phase III clinical trial for the potential treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and in two Phase IIb clinical trials for the potential treatment of HIV/AIDS. The FDA has already granted Ampligen Treatment IND Status and Orphan Drug Status. Treatment IND status was granted after an earlier reported study of 24 weeks duration consisting of 92 patients with severe CFS randomized to receive either Ampligen or Placebo. Only governmental regulatory agencies can make a definitive determination that the presumed efficacy/safety ratio of any new drug supports its commercial introduction for any disorder, including potential CFS treatment.

About Hemispherx

Hemispherx Biopharma, based in Philadelphia, is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the manufacture and clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of viral and immune-based chronic disorders. Its flagship products include Alferon N(R) and the experimental immunotherapeutics/antivirals Ampligen(R) and Oragens(TM). These novel proteins, approved for a category of STD infection, and experimental nucleic acids are being developed for globally important chronic viral diseases and disorders of the immune system including HPV, HIV, CFS and Hepatitis. Its platform technology includes large and small agent components for potential treatment of various chronic viral infections. Hemispherx has over 200 patents comprising its core intellectual property estate, a fully commercialized product (Alferon N(R)) and GMP certified manufacturing facilities for its novel pharma products. For more information please visit www.hemispherx.net

Information contained in this news release other than historical information, should be considered forward-looking and is subject to various risk factors and uncertainties. For instance, the strategies and operations of Hemispherx involve risk of competition; changing market conditions, change in laws and regulations affecting these industries and numerous other factors discussed in this release and in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any specifically referenced investigational drugs and associated technologies of the company (including Ampligen(R) and Oragens(TM)) are experimental in nature and as such are not designated safe and effective by a regulatory authority for general use and are legally available only through clinical trials with the referenced disorders. The forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Only Clinical Studies under well-controlled conditions can establish efficacy and safety of any product. Clinical trials for other potential indications of the approved biologic Alferon(R) do not imply that the product will ever be specifically approved commercially for these other treatment indication.

CFIDS/ME Patient Memorial List - updated site and link

Today, at my personal blog, I received a comment from Diane Rose, Volunteer Webmaster of CFIDS/ME Patient Memorial List, advising me they have completed a major redesign of the site and to update the link in my sidebar - which I have now done.

For readers here who suffer from ME/CFIDS, or know of someone who does, please note that to submit additional names for the list the Memorial site would need to be contacted with, if possible, the name, dates of birth and death, place and cause of death, and any additional information you feel is appropriate.  The following is an excerpt from the site:

By compiling this list, we hope to make people more fully aware of the seriousness of CFIDS/ME. Medical communities, media and governments understand neither how debilitating this illness is nor how those with it suffer. The United States National Institutes of Heath are not keeping track of the morbidity and mortality rates, although many have died and many more will if more is not done. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim there have not been deaths reported to them. If you know of a friend or family member who had CFIDS/ME and has passed on, please help us in our quest to document the seriousness of this illness.

We are grateful for the help of William Young, who began the list and who compiled a great number of names on this list.  Many of these people died of secondary illnesses attributed to CFIDS/ME. Medical doctors have pointed out that excruciating pain is the foremost reason that others have chosen to take their own lives.  The majority of these patients did not have the medical care they needed; they suffered unremitting pain with little hope of relief or comfort. We acknowledge their suffering and hope that they have not died in vain.
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Here are two poems by unknown authors that I found on the internet:


Miss Me..But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little..but not too long,
and not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared;
Miss me..but let me go.

For this is a journey we all must take,
And each must go alone.
It's all part of the Master's plan,
A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart,
Go to the friends we know;
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds
Miss me..but let me go.

- - -

"Come to Me"

God saw you getting tired
A cure was not to be,
So he put his arms around you
And he whispered,"Come to Me."

With tearful eyes we watched you
And saw you fade away,
Although we loved you dearly
We could not make you stay.

Many time we thought of you
Many times we cried,
If love alone could save you,
You would have never died.

A golden heart stopped beating
Your tender hands at rest,
God took you home to prove to us
He only takes the best.