SV40 Cancer Foundation Is Launched

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 01 Feb 2006 - 7:00 PDT

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The SV40 Cancer Foundation has just been established by Raphaele and Michael Horwin in memory of their son, Alexander Horwin who passed away in 1999 from an SV40 positive cancer at the age of 2.

SV40 was the 40th virus found in rhesus monkey kidney cells when these cells were used to make the polio vaccine. This virus contaminated both the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) created by Dr. Jonas Salk and the Oral or "Live" Polio Vaccine (OPV) created by Dr. Albert Sabin.

The Horwins lost their child, Alexander, http//www.ouralexander.org to a SV40 positive brain tumor in January 1999. Leading SV40 scientists in the United States performed five tests at five different laboratories on tissue removed from Alexander's brain tumor. DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology was used along with other sophisticated techniques such as laser micro-dissection. These tests demonstrated that SV40 was in Alexander's brain tumor cells and that the virus was active in creating the cancer.

Both parents underwent a series of tests to determine whether or not they carried the virus. Different SV40 laboratories were involved from the United States and Europe. All tests were negative for SV40. In addition, Alexander's cord blood had been saved with a private lab when Alexander was born. The cord blood was also tested by DNA PCR and was negative for SV40 providing evidence that neither Alexander nor his mother carried the virus at the time of Alexander's birth. This suggested that one or more of the polio vaccines Alexander was administered contained SV40.

On January 31st, 2000, The Horwins brought the very first SV40 lawsuit against American Home Products, the parent company of Lederle, for the wrongful death of their son. A Daubert hearing was held in the United States District Court for the Central District of California from February 11 to February 28, 2003. During the hearing, one of the causation experts, a leading SV40 scientist, testified that he had reviewed thousands of pages of internal Lederle documents that demonstrated it was likely that the SV40, which caused Alexander's cancer, came from the oral polio vaccine that he was administered. Despite this testimony, the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

The mission and purpose of the SV40 Cancer Foundation is to raise public awareness, encourage independent research and to facilitate clinical improvements.

SV40 Cancer Foundation
http://www.SV40foundation.org