(Taiwan) Study in Taiwan shows how fractions of bird flu medicine inhibit SARS virus :: BiotechEast - Taiwan and China biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, ^¤å½s×, ^¤å×§ï ::

(BiotechEast staff)

3 August, 2005
California-based PRB Pharmaceuticals and Hong-Kong's Lee's Pharmaceuticals in a press release announced today that a recent study by researchers from Taiwan's National Health Research Institutes demonstrated TF2b and TF3, two components of v38 AMF-1, inhibit the 3C-like protease encoded by SARS-CoV.

v38 AMF-1, a fraction of PRB Pharmaceuticals' over-the-counter flu and anti-viral medication VIRA 38, is best known for its ability to inhibit bird flu virus (H5N1) infections.

The study was published in the June edition of Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.

Senior author of the study, Dr. John T.A. Hsu, commented that the 3C-like protease (3CLpro) was one of the most promising targets for anti-SARS-CoV drugs due to its crucial role in the viral life cycle.
Dr. Charles Hensley, chairman and CEO of PRB Pharmaceuticals noted that the company was pleased with findings as they had patents filed on TF2b and TF3 for a number of infectious diseases including SARS and bird flu.

"In a much earlier study, Dr. John Tam at the Chinese University of Hong Kong showed v38 AMF-1 (TF1, TF2a, TF2b, and TF3) to be effective at inhibiting SARS virus replication. Subsequently, v38 AMF-1 and its fractions were shown to completely block bird flu virus (H5N1) infections," he said.

VIRA 38 was used by the Taiwan Presidential staff and doctors at Sungshan Hospital (SARS management facility) during the SARS outbreak of 2003.

Hensley was in Hong Kong and Taipei for the duration of the SARS epidemic, as was able to witness the destructive power of uncontrollable viruses firsthand.

"Once the bird flu outbreak enters the pandemic stage, it's going to make SARS look mild," he commented.

Co-releasing the announcement was Lee's Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd., the distributor of VIRA 38 to the Hong Kong market.

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