ImmuneRegen BioSciences Confirms Homspera's Therapeutic Anti-Influenza Effect on Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus After Oral Admi...( SCOTTSDALE Ariz. Ju...)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ImmuneRegen BioSciences(R), a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: IRBS), reports preliminary evidence that its selective Neurokinin 1-receptor agonist Homspera(R) is both active on oral administration and provides therapeutic effects against the current pandemic H1N1 virus infection.

Preliminary analysis of ongoing bioavailability studies in rats had revealed the oral administration of Homspera resulted in measurable amounts of the drug in lung tissue. Systemic absorption and accumulation in lungs was found after both oral and intra-duodenal administration in studies performed by a major, global contract research organization, with analytical work performed at MDx Bioanalytical Inc. of Tucson, Arizona.

Based on these findings, the Company commissioned H1N1 virus studies to be performed in the laboratories of a widely-respected University scientist. Using the accepted ferret model of H1N1 influenza virus infection, animals were treated orally (initially) with Homspera starting 24 hours following infection. While data collection and analysis is ongoing, preliminary evaluation of temperatures of infected ferrets reveals that orally-administered Homspera lessened the impact of influenza infection, resulting in shortened duration and more rapid resolution of the hyperthermia associated with infection.

Immune markers of infection remain to be assessed, but this pilot study apparently reveals that the ability of Homspera to attenuate symptoms of influenza virus infection, which have previously been reported in cotton rats infected with H3N2 influenza and in ferrets infected with H5N1 influenza, also extends to the current pandemic H1N1 strain.

These results, although preliminary, support the hypoth
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