Bay Area Reporter - September 28, 2000
Jeff Getty, Survive AIDS Writers Pool

There is only limited data to support these claims; a small placebo-controlled study in Barbados in 1997 that followed 43 HIV patients with 21 receiving the drug for a total of 120 days. Overall the results were less than stellar with the active drug arm showing modest T-cell increases and a .5 log viral load reduction. Also the study showed significant weight gain (the placebo group actually lost weight) and other markers improving such as hemoglobin levels. None of the patients in this study were taking any other AIDS drugs. Since the first study was reported, there have been other reports (unpublished and published) indicating that the drug decreased human papilloma outbreaks and had strong anti-viral effects on adenovirus (causes pinkeye) in the test tube.

So why the hype? Reticulose has been around Since World War II and failed to gain FDA approval in 1962 for influenza. Previous owners of the drug have gone broke and the latest owners, Advanced Viral Research Corporation, which employs Shalom Z. Hirschman, purchased the drug at a fire sale. Hirschman, who was working at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York as chief of infectious disease, became interested in the drug when a relative with HIV came to him and asked him about it. Hirschman looked into the drug and saw some interesting results in his early work. "I was a doubter like everyone else. When I saw what we were dealing with, my instincts told me that we were opening a new world of medical treatments that are non-toxic," Hirschman said. He went on to join Advanced Viral Research Corporation.

Now Advanced Viral Research Corporation and Hirschman (along with a very aggressive public relations consultant) have set out to raise venture capital so that they can either sell the drug to a larger company or complete drug trials and a full application to the FDA as an HIV anti-viral or immune stimulator. (They are not sure which yet.)

"It's a drug looking for a disease, it has been around forever and every few years it reappears and claims to fight HIV," said Project Inform's Martin Delaney. Delaney does not believe that the drug has any proven merit in HIV disease.

To prove the drug really can help, and to silence its critics, a group of Advanced Viral Research Corporation investors began giving away free supplies of the drug to various patients who called the company after seeing the numerous press releases. The expensive drug, which is produced offshore, is imported for each person individually under U.S. personal drug importation law. The company has been following these patients to see what happens to their lab numbers as well as their clinical health. Seven people have received the drug so far, with all seven wishing to remain on the drug. To date the results have been promising, but the numbers are still too few.

One patient who received the free drug about four months ago is a New York resident, Octavio Perez. Perez had severe AIDS complications in 1992 which left him blind and suffering from wasting. He started his latest HAART therapy about one year ago which consisted of d4T, a protease inhibitor, and abacavir. His T-cell count went up a bit but stayed in the low 200s and his viral load fell but then rebounded to over 100k after a year's therapy. At baseline Perez's T-cells were 232 and his HIV viral load was 580,000 copies. After four months of Reticulose his T-cells were 580 and viral load at 35,000 copies. He also claims that his appetite improved and he gained 12 pounds. Perez also said that his hematocrit (bone marrow output) and liver counts became normal again. "I'm always hungry now," said Perez.

Another patient who received drug three months ago had similar results. Both patients noticed improvements in neuropathy and other side effects from HIV drugs.

I began investigating the drug and the company. I, too, was offered a free supply, and since the drug had no known toxicities, I tried it as well.

Over several months, my T-cells did not go up, nor did I see a sustained viral load reduction. I did notice that my appetite increased dramatically such that I no longer needed to use appetite stimulants or anabolic steroids to keep my weight on. When I stopped the drug (I did so twice because my supply was interrupted) my anorexia returned after about three days. I am convinced that this drug makes me eat. I have noticed no side effects, but long-term effects remain to be seen.

There have been other patients over the years who Hirschman claims saw tremendous benefit, and there have been others who went on to die from AIDS. Hirschman thinks the drug works by adding increased mutation pressure to the HIV virus. He is not sure what effect it is having on the immune system but speculated that it might have strong cellular responses.

Is this another cure looking for a disease? It's makers claim that Reticulose fights papilloma, HIV, and adenovirus (and yes it's said to remove warts as well) Or could there be something hiding here beneath all the hype? Only time will tell, if Advanced Viral Research Corporation can raise the money needed to mount a large FDA clinical trail, we will likely find out more relevant data about the mysterious Product-R. In the meantime, individuals who are able to get the drug for free will likely continue on with Reticulose as long as their supplies lasts.

Persons interested in contacting Advanced Viral Research Corporation should call: Peter McGlockin, AVR Canada, at 450-451-5165.

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