The Quigley Corporation And The Israeli Ministry Of Agriculture (MOAG) Will Collaborate To Test Quigley Pharma QR-441(a)

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 21 Feb 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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The Quigley Corporation (Nasdaq: QGLY) today announced that it has signed an agreement with the State of Israel Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (MOAG) and the Kimron Veterinary Institute to conduct a clinical trial testing the anti-viral capacity of the Quigley compound QR-441(a) administered as a medical feed and water to chickens exposed to HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N1. The QR-441(a) was developed by Quigley Pharma, http://www.QuigleyPharma.com, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary.

The objectives outlined in the Quigley protocol are to administer QR-441(a) in a feed and or water to one week old special pathogen free chickens then challenge them with HPAI H5N1 and examine the birds for morbidity, mortality and virus shedding. The experimental design is such to obtain statistical significant data.

If successful this study could potentially provide data on the efficacy of QR-441(a) in preventing the infection of food grade poultry through the use of formulated feed and water. Positive data could be used to continue the development of the compound in the U.S. with guidance from the FDA under the INAD's issued to Quigley in 2005 and might also be useful for development outside the United States, where the impact of disease has already been felt.

In addition, based upon the outcome of this test, the Company has options to test alternate delivery methods and for efficacy against other poultry respiratory pathogens such as Newcastle's disease and Infectious bronchitis, for which the compound has been shown to be effective.

Immediately following the positive results of a tolerability study last June 2006, which showed that chickens will eat and drink the QR-441(a) in a feed and water without toxicity, the Company set out to identify and secure the services of a qualified laboratory to perform this challenge study. Due to the limited availability of facilities, it has taken the Company these past seven months to identify and secure the services of a laboratory as qualified, willing and capable as MOAG. The experiment will be conducted by and have oversight from Dr. Shimon Perk and Dr. Caroline Noach of the Kimron Institute.

"It is a privilege for us to be working with MOAG on this extremely important Global threat. It is all of our hope that the data derived from this study will assist in developing a potential product for industry and governments to use to help control this serious disease," said Dr Rosenbloom, COO of Quigley Pharma.

Should an outbreak of H5N1 occur in the US the response by federal and local officials working with the poultry industry will slaughter infected birds and then establish a buffer zone in which it would be assumed that birds would be at a high risk of potential infection. The potential for QR-441(a) is to feed it to poultry stocks through feed and or water as a preventative measure against infection within the high risk buffer zone and beyond.

To date the World Organization of Animal Health has reported over 4500 outbreaks of avian influenza (H5N1 subtype) in poultry in 37 countries between 2003 and February 2007.

According to APHIS USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, "any outbreak of HPAI, regardless of the strain, could have very serious economic and health impacts on the U.S. poultry industry, as well as on public health. The United States is the world's largest producer and exporter of poultry meat and the second-largest egg producer. Total U.S. poultry production was valued at $23.3 billion in 2003. Broiler production was valued at $15.2 billion, followed by eggs at $5.3 billion, and turkeys at $2.7 billion. An outbreak of HPAI could result in significant poultry production losses in affected areas due to quarantine and bird depopulation activities."

The Quigley Corporation makes no representation that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any other regulatory agency will allow the aforementioned Compound to be tested and/or marketed in humans and/or animals. Furthermore, no claim is made that the potential medicine discussed here is safe, effective, or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

About The Quigley Corporation

The Quigley Corporation (Nasdaq: QGLY, http://www.QuigleyPharma.com) is a diversified natural health medical science company. Its Cold Remedy segment is a leading marketer and manufacturer of the COLD-EEZE(R) family of lozenges, gums and sugar free tablets clinically proven to cut the common cold nearly in half. COLD-EEZE customers include leading national wholesalers and distributors, as well as independent and chain food, drug and mass merchandise stores and pharmacies. The Quigley Corporation has four (4) wholly owned subsidiaries. Darius International markets health and wellness products through its wholly owned subsidiary, InnerLight Inc. Quigley Manufacturing Inc. consists of two FDA approved facilities to manufacture COLD-EEZE(R) lozenges as well as fulfill other contract manufacturing opportunities. Quigley Pharma Inc. (http://www.QuigleyPharma.com) conducts research in order to develop and commercialize a pipeline of patented botanical and naturally derived prescription drugs.

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company's actual performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. Factors that impact such forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in worldwide general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, government regulations, and worldwide competition.

The Quigley Corporation
http://www.QuigleyPharma.com

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