Aethlon Medical’s Hemopurifier has been shown to capture or inhibit the growth of other envelope viruses including HIV, SIV, FIV, Hepatitis C, Measles, Mumps, Influenza, Ebola, Marburg, and Orthopox viruses. Researchers have also documented the Hemopurifier’s ability to reverse immune suppression in cancer patients.
The company announced Wednesday that it will initiate studies to test the effectiveness of the Hemopurifier in its ability to capture West Nile virus. West Nile is presently untreatable with antiviral drug and vaccine therapy.
West Nile is part of the celebrity superbug phenomenon, insofar as it is highly feared but, in reality, presents little threat to humans. In 2007, there were 3600 cases reported and 121 U.S. fatalities, this according to the CDC.
The studies will be conducted at the Battelle Biomedical Research Center. Battelle previously collaborated with Aethlon on pre-clinical testing of the Hemopurifier against Avian Flu. The Hemopurifier removed 99.4% of infectious Avian Flu Virus from cell culture fluids during a six-hour testing period.
The current studies are designed to evaluate the potential of the Hemopurifier to treat West Nile, and to further demonstrate the broad-spectrum effectiveness of the Hemopurifier in its ability to capture viral pathogens.
The Hemopurifier rapidly separates and captures infectious viruses and toxins from circulating blood before the occurrence of cell and organ infection. The treatment goal is to reduce viral load burden without drug toxicity in the hope that the patient’s own immune system will recover adequately to fight viral infection. The mechanical nature of the Hemopurifier also allows it to be used in conjunction with other therapies including drugs and vaccines, if available.
The device, which resembles a modified kidney dialysis cartridge, has been designed to exploit the pre-existing global infrastructure of dialysis and continuous renal replacement machines already present in hospitals and clinics.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently mandated that the commercialization of therapies able to demonstrate broad-spectrum effectiveness against multiple pathogens will be a focal point of government support.
Data resulting from the West Nile study and other clinical programs will be included in a forthcoming submission to HHS and the newly established Biomedical Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to advance the commercialization of the Hemopurifier as a countermeasure against bioterror and pandemic threats.
It seems like nothing rouses government support more than the illnesses which generate the most public interest but, in reality, are negligible threats at best.
