Amarillo Biosciences to Initiate Low-Dose Interferon Clinical Trials to Treat COVID-19, Appoints Interferon Specialist Dr. Manfred Beilharz to Scientific Advisory Board

Amarillo, TX, Sept. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. (“ABI” or the “Company”), (AMAR), the world leader in low-dose non-injectable interferon research, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Manfred Beilharz, Associate Professor at The University of Western Australia and renown pioneer in interferon research, to the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board.

Based on the Company’s past successful clinical research using low-dose interferon, Dr. Beilharz will work closely with ABI and its research collaborators in initiating several clinical trials this year.  These trials will primarily be focused on developing a therapeutic for COVID-19, as well as the continuation of the Company’s late-stage treatments for thrombocytopenia and Sjögren’s syndrome.  ABI Chairman & CEO, Dr. Stephen T. Chen, remarked, “We are excited to be working again with Dr. Beilharz who has contributed tremendously to the interferon research field and there is a high degree of confidence that our non-injectable interferon development program, Veldona, will prove to be an effective therapeutic for these targeted indications based on supporting clinical research.”

In relation to COVID-19, clinical data has shown low-dose interferon alpha effective against other coronaviruses such as H1N1 and SARS.  Previously, a published study for a collaborative phase 2b influenza trial conducted by Dr. Beilharz, “Low-dose oral interferon alpha as prophylaxis against viral respiratory illness: a double-blind, parallel controlled trial during an influenza pandemic year” demonstrated 150 IU interferon alpha delivered orally with ABI’s proprietary formulated Veldona lozenge significantly reduced the severity of symptoms in males aged 50 years or more and showed potential to enhance vaccine-induced protection against influenza.  Other published clinical and non-clinical studies confirm low-dose interferon’s unique mechanism of action provide the medical-scientific rationale for ABI’s clinical development strategy for Veldona.  Applying clinical studies towards COVID-19 is a logical next step.