Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - Friday 30 August 2002
Anjira Assavanonda
Doctor volunteers working with the Salang Bunnag Foundation which supervised distribution of V-1 Immunitor said yesterday the food supplement could not cure HIV as claimed by its inventor.
The doctors, led by Dr Sek Aksaranukroh, also said they were not involved in the developer's attempt to sue Deputy Public Health Minister Surapong Suebwonglee for defamation.
On Aug 13, Vichai Jirathitikal and Immunitor Manufacturing Co took court action seeking 100 billion baht from Dr Surapong. Comments by the deputy minister that V-1 Immunitor had been found to have no significant effect on patients had ruined plans to obtain research funds and distribute the drug worldwide.
The suit was dismissed by the Civil Court which ruled that Dr Surapong merely stated the facts.
The doctors who renounced the supplement said they were worried people would think they were involved in the lawsuit. They said they withdrew support for Mr Vichai and his firm in February.
They believed he exaggerated V-1's quality and they opposed the fact that he sold the product to HIV/Aids patients for 30-baht a tablet.
``Selling V-1 breached an agreement made at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Pitak Intaravitayanan at Government House in June last year, in which we promised to distribute the product for free,'' said Dr Sek.
Mr Vichai claimed he invented the product when in fact another Thai scientist, who did not want to reveal himself, had come up with the idea.
Montri Sethabutr, president of Aids Patients Fund under the Salang Bunnag Foundation, said a nine-month study of 71 patients taking V-1 showed the substance failed to improve patient immunity levels.
Blood tests from another 50,000 patients found no change, despite claims of a cure by Mr Vichai's Ban Bangpakong clinic.
Dr Montri said patients who took V-1 over a long period had actually worsened. Some came down with opportunistic infections, and many died.
One patient at Ban Bangpakong clinic who declined to be named said she took V-1 for one year, but then quit after her condition grew worse.
She came down with frequent headaches, and suffered opportunistic infections including tuberculosis.
Dr Surapong said the ministry wanted to know whether Mr Vichai and his group had broken the law in distributing V-1.
The ministry would also take action against doctors who were involved with Ban Bangpakong clinic.
020830
BP020803
Copyright © 2002 - The Bangkok Post. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Bangkok Post.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2002. 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, 2002. 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. .