Safety and efficacy trial of adipose-tissue derived oral preparation V-6 Immunitor (V-6): results of open-label, two-month, follow-up study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic inflammations, atherosclerosis and obesity, are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Immune modulation of the inflammatory response has shown promise in animal models of atherogenesis and metabolic disease. Tableted dietary supplement, V-6, containing pooled antigens derived from pig adipose tissue has been administered daily to 12 volunteers for 2 months.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No significant changes were observed in liver ALT and AST enzymes, i.e., 28 vs 23.8 IU and 22.6 vs 24.8 IU, with p = 0.07 and p = 0.49, respectively. Creatinine decreased; 0.88 vs 0.84 mg/dL (p = 0.05) while BUN moved upward; 14.5 vs 17.5 mg/dL (p = 0.01), but both values remained within normal range. Blood glucose remained within normal range; 96.1 vs 101.1 mg/dL (p = 0.04). Complete blood cell analysis has not revealed any change except slight increase in hemoglobin; 13.13 to 13.96 g/dL (p = 0.0002); hematocrit and red blood cells count 40.3 to 42.3% (p = 0.02) and 5.15 to 5.35 × 10⁶cells/mm³(p = 0.03) respectively. Blood pressure systolic and diastolic values were not affected, i.e., 116.1 vs 116.3 (p = 0.12) and 76.8 vs 76.6 (p = 0.99). Body weight and body mass index (BMI) remained same; 66.4 vs 66.3 kg (p = 0.47) and 25.7 vs 25.6 kg/m²(p = 0.2). Body fat deposit indices, such as abdomen; mid-arm; and thigh circumferences declined by 3.5 cm (p = 0.008); 1.2 cm (p = 0.004); and 3.0 cm (p = 0.0007) respectively. The total cholesterol and LDL levels did not change; 195.5 vs 195.1 (-0.2%; p = 0.8) and 113.4 vs 120.3 (6.1%; p = 0.08) respectively. Triglycerides have been reduced but not statistically significant; 168.1 vs 118 mg/dL (-29.8%; p = 0.2). In contrast, HDL content had risen by 29.7% from 39.4 to 51.1 mg/dL in all 12 patients (p = 0.000003). TG/HDL ratio - a marker of insulin resistance - was reduced from 4.78 to 2.56 (-46.5%; p = 0.04).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results demonstrate that V-6 is safe and has a potential as an anti-atherogenic and overweight/obesity immune intervention.</p

Recent developments in biotech industry outside of the USA and Western Europe: Report from BIO 2005

The BIO 2005 international convention is the largest gathering of the biotech industry in the world. This year it was held on June 19-22 inside the behemoth Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia, bringing together 18,730 executives, investors, consultants, lawyers, politicians, scientists, and dreamers from 56 countries. More than 500 media representatives covered the event. Biotechnology research and findings presented by countries outside the USA and Western Europe has begun to make a significant impact on these annual BIO gatherings. The achievements of some of these countries are briefly reviewed

Serodeconversion of HIV Antibody-Positive AIDS Patients Following Treatment with V-1 Immunitor

It is extremely rare when HIV seropositive adult patients experience spontaneous loss of antibodies, that is, seroreversion. The disappearance of HIV antibodies was occasionally attributed to iatrogenic intervention—serodeconversion. Such interventions include: HAART; oral interferon; Chinese herbal remedies; and therapeutic AIDS vaccines derived from pooled blood. Oral therapeutic, alloimmune AIDS vaccine, V-1 Immunitor (V1), was administered to 60000 HIV-positive Thai patients. The administration of V1 resulted in serodeconversion among 23 individuals. The patient group consisted of 9 females (39%) and 14 males (61%) including two 2-year-old boys. The age range was 2–58 years with mean/median 29/29.3 years. Patients were tested seropositive for HIV at least once before being enrolled on V1. The duration of treatment until discovery of seronegative status ranged between 2 weeks and 15 months with average/median 7.2/8 months. Time to seronegativity was correlated with baseline disease stage (R = 0.62; P = .002). The seronegative status was positively associated with V1-induced undetectable or low viral load (R = 0.65; P = .0008). The odds ratio analysis comparing the outcome of our study with published surveys of diagnostic accuracy of laboratory tests suggested that the probability of HIV antibody testing error was remote (P < .000001). The possible causes responsible for this unusual phenomenon are discussed

Normalization of elevated liver enzymes due to V-1 Immunitor therapy

V-1 Immunitor (V1) is an oral AIDS vaccine currently being used as a therapeutic modality by HIV-positive patients. Upon interim analysis of phase I safety trial it has been discovered that patients who had elevated liver enzymes aspartate (AST/SGOT) and alanine (ALT/SGPT) aminotransferases have experienced the reduction of enzyme levels back to normal. Two other hepatitis markers alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin have also decreased. V1's effect may be hepatitis-specific since liver enzymes in normal patients treated with V1 have not changed and three patients who were Hepatitis B antigen positive at baseline became negative after therapy. The results suggest that V1 supplementation reduces hepatic damage caused by hepatitis viral infection

Phase IIb randomized trial of adjunct immunotherapy in patients with first-diagnosed tuberculosis, relapsed and multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB

Placebo-controlled, randomized, phase 2b trial was conducted in 34 adults comprising 18 first-diagnosed (52.9%), 6 relapsed (17.6%), and 10 MDR-TB (29.4%) cases to investigate the safety and efficacy of an oral immune adjunct (V5). The immunotherapy (N = 24) and placebo (N = 10) arms received once-daily tablet of V5 or placebo for one month in addition to conventional anti-TB therapy (ATT) administered under directly observed therapy (DOT)

SHORT COMMUNICATION - Normalization of elevated liver enzymes due to V-1 Immunitor therapy

V-1 Immunitor (V1) is an oral AIDS vaccine currently being used as a therapeutic modality by HIV-positive patients. Upon interim analysis of phase I safety trial it has been discovered that patients who had elevated liver enzymes aspartate (AST/SGOT) and alanine (ALT/SGPT) aminotransferases have experienced the reduction of enzyme levels back to normal. Two other hepatitis markers alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin have also decreased. V1's effect may be hepatitis-specific since liver enzymes in normal patients treated with V1 have not changed and three patients who were Hepatitis B antigen positive at baseline became negative after therapy. The results suggest that V1 supplementation reduces hepatic damage caused by hepatitis viral infection