Business Wire - November 22, 2004
Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver and a major cause of acute hepatitis and chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, and is now recognized as the leading cause of liver transplantation in the United States. HCV is spread primarily by direct contact with human blood. The World Health Organization estimates that about 170 million people are infected with HCV, about 3% of the world's population. Approximately 5 million Americans are infected with HCV, and there are 8,000-10,000 such deaths each year in the United States.
Energex's experimental treatment involves exposing a very small amount of an infected subjects blood (3-4%) to a very precise amount of ultra-violet light in the C band (UVC), for a very precise amount of time, explained Thomas Petrie, the developer of the technology and Director of Engineering at Energex Systems. "During treatment, a percentage of any pathogen in the blood that is exposed to the UVC energy is inactivated. After exposure, the blood carrying the inactive pathogen is returned to the patient through the same portal it was drawn from. The result, we believe, is a stimulation of the immune system", said Petrie. The process takes 20-30 minutes.
In the trial, non-responders to Interferon/Ribaviran are administered 3 PCR tests before treatment, on days 1,8, and 15. The average of the tests is the baseline that post-treatment tests are compared to. After the blood draw on day 15, the 1st treatment is administered, followed by the 2nd treatment on day 17. Prior to the 3rd treatment on day 20, the first post-treatment PCR test is administered and the result is compared to the baseline. The 4th and 5th treatments are administered on days 25 and 30 respectively. On day 33 the 1st PCR test after the last treatment is administered and compared to the baseline. Additional PCR tests are administered on days 57, 64 and 71 and the average of the tests is compared to the baseline. Preliminary results at day 33, established viral load reductions of 56, 91 and 96 percent in the 1st three trial participants.
"When you consider that we are treating non-responders; the average viral load reduction of the 1st three participants was in excess of 81% in just a 17-day period, and there have been no adverse events, I believe it goes a long way in validating our belief that our Hemo-Modulator technology will soon become the treatment of choice for Hepatitis C and other RNA type viruses" said Thomas J. Fagan, President of Energex Systems. We are excited about the potential that our technology has to manage this hard-to-treat disease, to reduce the cost of care, and to provide a better quality of life for the millions that suffer from it. We are committed to expending whatever resources are necessary to see that this technology continues through the research and approval processes, and that it is accepted by the medical community as the treatment of choice for this potentially life threatening disease", said Fagan.
Energex Systems is dedicated to developing medical technologies and therapies with an emphasis on the treatment of conditions unmet by present day therapies and reducing the cost of care.
CONTACT: Energex Systems, Inc.
Thomas J. Fagan, President
Tel: 201-261-0099 ext.11
Fax: 201-261-8939
Email: tfagan@energexsystems.com
SOURCE: Energex Systems, Inc.
041122
BW041113
Copyright © 2004 - Business Wire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Business Wire, Permissions Desk, Business Wire, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10036; Tel: (212) 575-8822; FAX: (212) 575-1854. http://www.businesswire.com.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2004. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .