Aethlon Medical reported today that preliminary results of its patented Hemopurifier device in the treatment of Hepatitis C (HCV) seem promising. While the clinical trials are still underway, the so-called “Extract 1 Study Protocol” is aimed at patients with the genotype 1 HCV, the most common form worldwide and the most resistant to standard courses of treatment that involve the administration of peginterferon and ribavirin. Because the viral load present in the patient determines the efficacy and length of treatment, the Hemopurfier will serve to facilitate the benefits of the drugs, suggesting it may promote a shorter length of treatment and a better quality of life for the patients. Extract 1 was also to test if the Hemopurifier would have any adverse effects on the standard drug regiment, which would provide insight into the device’s potential to treat other diseases without interfering with the standard course of drug treatment.
While the clinical testing is still in its early stages and Aethlon researchers only cite observations made on a three-person test group, early examination after only seven days measures viral loads orders of a magnitude less than those of initial measurements. After 30 days, the viral loads present in the subjects were negligible in one and undetectable in the two others. Again, the size of the test group could not yield results of any statistical significance, but an ideal study would anticipate that twenty test subjects would be required to yield two patients with no detectable viral load after just 30 days of treatment.
The Hemopurifier is unique among medical treatment devices. Basically, it operates similar to a dialysis machine, except that it fits on the arm and relies on normal blood pressure to cycle blood through its filters, a process that takes only 12 minutes for the whole body. Its promising role in the treatment of genotype 1 HCV alone would merit interest from medical practitioners and investors alike, but preliminary tests indicate it may prove effective for a range of immunodeficiency problems (including HIV), liver diseases, and even cancer. The simplicity and portability of the device means that it would be marketable to developing countries with high rates of these diseases, and its compatibility with standard drug treatments means that patients would not face trade-off risks associated with competing and exclusive treatment programs.
Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO East 2012, happening NOW in Miami, FL. ITEXPO offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO registration click here.
Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO. Follow us on Twitter.
Julie Griffin has a B.A. in English from the University of Kentucky and covers technology news and communications related topics. Known best for her various web publications, Griffin also occasionally contributes to local press.Edited by
Rich Steeves
