Update on Phase 2 clinical trial of oral interferon announced by Amarillo Biosciences

Dec 17 2009

Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. (ABI) (OTCBB: AMAR) today announced that its ongoing study of oral interferon as prevention/treatment of influenza and other respiratory illnesses in Perth, Australia is nearing completion. A total of 200 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this Phase 2 clinical trial to take oral interferon or placebo lozenges once daily for 16 weeks, followed by 4 weeks of post-treatment observation. The treatment phase of the study was successfully concluded in November with over 80% of the volunteers completing 16 weeks of study medication. All subjects are scheduled to complete the 4 weeks of post-treatment observation by the end of the year.

The aim of this study is to determine whether the volunteers who take oral interferon experience fewer respiratory illnesses and/or less severe symptoms during the winter cold/flu season in Australia. To reach this aim, the study was conducted in a placebo-controlled, double-blind manner. Half of the volunteers received lozenges containing the Company's interferon-alpha product, while the other half received a sugar pill (placebo). During treatment, neither the investigators nor the volunteers knew which subjects received interferon and which received placebo.

Only after all subjects have completed the post-treatment observation phase and all study data has been entered into a locked electronic database will the code be broken to reveal the treatment assigned to each subject. Finalization of the data and breaking of the treatment code will occur in January, followed by detailed statistical analysis. Results of the study will be announced as soon as a full analysis of all study data has been completed.