Patent, Homeopathic Medicine

US Patent Allowance Awarded to Developer of Homeopathic Growth Factor
Summer 1997 - New Technology Includes Cost-Effective AIDS Medicines
UPTOWN HEALTH & SPIRIT

A promising new class of medications has been developed combining the use of recent advances of biotechnology with the 200-year old science of homeopathy. Biomed Comm^®, a Seattle-based company, was recently awarded a Patent Notice of Allowance making it the first company to patent homeopathic growth factors for use as an alternative medicine. "These homeopathic growth factors represent a new class of medicines, combining today's advanced biotechnologies, modern biology and basic homeopathic principles formed two centuries ago," said Dr. Barbara Brewitt, Biomed^® Chief Scientific Officer. Growth factors are a class of polypeptides (proteins) produced naturally in the body. Classified by standard textbooks as hormones, they regulate cell growth, division and specialization. These proteins enable cells to communicate with one another, and are defined as Cell Signal Enhancers^® (CSE^®) by Brewitt. CSEs enable the cell to make appropriate responses to its surrounding environment. Growth factors then help cells respond better to disruptions, such as disease.

Homeopathy is a form of natural medicine that uses minute amounts of medicines to stimulate the body's defense system and healing process. Developed over 200 years ago, homeopathic therapies often are so highly diluted that the substances cannot even be measured in the body, and therefore are completely non-toxic. The medicines are working at the cellular level to only stimulate the body to develop its own defense and healing mechanism.

In the 1700s, German physician Samuel Hahnemann developed the principle of the "Law of Similars". Today, the law remains as a defining principle of homeopathy. It means that if a substance causes side effects and syndromes at pharmacological, large or toxic doses, this same substance can heal these same symptoms and syndromes when given in small does that have been serially diluted and agitated. Hahnemann's years of observing the pharmacological effects of drugs initiated his development of the Law of Similars.

Conventional medicine utilizes the Law of Similars in such common treatments as allergens for allergy patients, in such drugs as ritalin for hyperactive children, and in vaccines. But, whereas conventional medicine uses high doses of these treatments - often to the level of overkill and the production of side effects - homeopathy uses highly diluted and safe concentrations that are neither toxic nor produce side effects. "It is the first time that homeopathic growth factors have been tested for clinical efficacy using a rigorous scientific model, such as a double-blind placebo-controlled study," said Brewitt. Brewitt's clinical study in 1995 involved 30 HIV-positive individuals using a combination of four homeopathic growth factors. The 16 week long clinical trial enrolled selected long-term HIV/AIDS patients who had never used anti-viral therapies.

The results of the clinical studies have been recognized by the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine with a technical merit ñ number-one rating for alternative approaches to HIV/AIDS. Results included a reduction in viral load in patients on the treatment. Patients on treatment also gained an average of 10 pounds, compared to patients on placebo who lost weight. CD4 and CD8 cells increased in patients on treatment while patients on placebo experienced decreases. There were no opportunistic infections experienced by patients taking the homeopathic growth factors. Results included a reduction in viral load in patients on the treatment. Patients on treatment also gained an average of 10 pounds, compared to patients on placebo, who lost weight. CD4 and CD8 cells increased in patients on treatment while patients on placebo experienced decreases. There were no opportunistic infections experienced by patients taking the homeopathic growth factors. Also noted was a decline in the rate of inflammation in the body of patients on treatment versus a rise in patients on placebo. There were no adverse side effects noted. The many positive results led to an extended yearlong open study with 30 patients. Biomed Comm^® has continued to follow the patients involved in the initial study for over 20 months through quarterly blood tests.

The patients have fallen into three groups: one group elected to maintain the growth factor protocol, a second group shifted to an antiviral/protease inhibitor protocol and the third group elected to use only natural products or nutritional supplements without growth factors.

Biomed^® reports the group that has continued to use growth factors is doing well; there have been no deaths, no opportunistic infections, no inflammation, and viral loads are low, with no significant difference from those patients taking expensive combinations of antiviral therapy. CD4 and CD8 cell counts are insignificantly different from patients on antiviral therapy. Growth factor patients have also achieved a higher weight gain and are more stable than patients on antiviral or natural therapy, and there have been no reported adverse side effects. This is especially significant when compared to the new data on diabetes-induced conditions by protease inhibitor and anti-viral therapy. The second and third groups have not faired as well.

Biomed Comm^® is currently halfway through a double-blind placebo replication study to reconfirm the results of the original four-month clinical trial. "

The concept of homeopathic growth factors represents a major breakthrough in reduction of health-care costs for healthy and chronically ill individuals," Dr. Brewitt said. "For reasons that homeopathic medications are highly diluted, cost reductions by 80 to 90 percent over conventional medicines are hoped to offer effective preventive options."

The proposed cost of the new, over-the-counter therapy of the four homeopathic growth factors is about $4 per day or $1,440 per year, which is a fraction of the cost of therapies involving combinations of antibiotics, anti-retroviral and protease inhibitor drugs.

Homeopathic growth factors may also offer uses ideal for preventative medicine. According to Dr. Brewitt, a careful delivery of homeopathic growth factors will result in longer, healthier lives because of the maintenance of long-term healthy homeostasis. The slowing of cell growth represents the gradual deterioration of tissues and membranes, which happens naturally as we age. Older individuals cell growth has slowed, and often they are more susceptible to disease. Healthy human cells self-regulate through growth, division and specialization. Only when an imposing outside element enters the equation do abnormal changes occur. Brewitt believes these abnormal changes can be brought back into balance via growth factors.

The company anticipates multiple-product applications as consumers become knowledgeable in the science of growth factors for the promotion of optimal health and therapeutic treatment.