May 11, 2006

 

Quigley Pharma conducts tests on "medical feed"

 

 

Quigley Pharma announced it is conducting further studies on its QR-441(a) compound to determine its effectiveness in the form of feed when used in perimeter zones during H5N1 outbreaks.

 

Quigley Pharma is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Quigley Corporation, a diversified natural health medical science company.

 

The company said the botanical compound can be mixed with food or water supplies to enhance poultry's defenses to bird flu.

 

In this study, the company intends to mix the compound into animal feed, thus coining the new term "medical feed".

 

During a bird flu outbreak, a hot zone would likely be established where all poultry would be slaughtered. Immediately outside the hot zone would be a buffer zone perimeter in which poultry would be at a greater risk of infection by H5N1. QR-441(a) is designed for use in this buffer zone perimeter.

 

The study would determine if serving the compound in feed form has advantages over other forms of drug delivery, such as safety and convenience.

 

Furthermore, this mode of delivery may also work to reduce the amount of virus in fecal matter, the primary form of viral transmission among poultry.

 

The company also intends to follow up this study, which is based on healthy chicken, to another study based on chickens infected with H5N1.

 

The company is also studying QR-441(a)'s effects on swine. The company said pigs are an important factor as they are likely breeding grounds for mutations of H5N1 that might target humans.

 

Earlier tests by the company has shown that QR-441(a) would be able to prevent the transmission of Influenza A in animal model studies and in-vitro studies.

 

The compound has not yet received approval from the FDA as a veterinary drug.

 

The company had a history of launching several successful health solutions targeting conditions such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis with naturally derived compounds and botanicals.