X-Message-Number: 9966
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 1998 20:18:51 -0400
From: Jan Coetzee <>
Subject: Virodene

July 2, 1998

           Virodene phase-1 protocol submitted to
           MCC

           Afrikaans

           Thalyta Swanepoel

           Johannesburg - Earlier this week the Virodene PO58
           researchers submitted a protocol for phase 1-studies on
healthy
           volunteers to the Medicines Control Council (MCC).

           If the board approves the protocol, the process has been set
in
           motion to test the remedy on people who are HIV positive.

           Larry Heidebrecht, spokesperson for Virodene Pharmaceutical
           Holdings (VPH), did not want to pass any further comment on
           Thursday, apart from confirming that the protocol had been
           submitted. He could not say when the MCC would consider it.

           Dr Helen Rees, Chairperson of the Board, was not available
           for comment on Thursday. The board's next meeting will be on
           July 23 and 24.

           Rees had earlier said that the MCC has to decide within
           approximately three months whether there is sufficient
           scientific proof that Virodene works.

           The remedy has to be tested on healthy people first to
           determine its capacity of absorption, and whether any toxins
           are visible. This is normal practice for any clinical test. A

           method for the detection of Virodene in the bloodstream has
           still to be finalised.

           VPH was established after a huge consortium of black
           businessmen, businesses and other investors bought out the
           majority share for R20 million in Cryoperservation
           Technologies, the closed corporation which owns Virodene.

           Joshua Nxumalo, Interim Manager of VPH, earlier said he has
           a lot of confidence in the researchers and was certain the
           remedy would be on the market shortly.

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