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Amarillo Biosciences, Inc.: Amarillo Biosciences' Phase 2 Australian Clinical Study of Interferon as a Preventative Agent Again

^{Published on 2009-09-08 10:14:16 - Market Wire}
 

AMARILLO, TX--(Marketwire - September 8, 2009) - Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. (OTCBB: [ AMAR ]) today announced that a Phase 2 study of orally administered interferon-alpha for the prevention of influenza and winter colds has reached the midway point. The study in Perth, Australia achieved full target enrollment of 200 subjects and 98% of the subjects remain on study drug. Subjects in the study are receiving a lozenge containing interferon-alpha or a matching placebo once a day for 16 weeks. The average treatment time in the study to date is just over eight weeks. The first subject began treatment in May and the last subject will be completing blinded treatment in November, with final study results expected before the end of the year.

Study medication compliance has been excellent and is averaging 95% per week (i.e. 19 out of every 20 expected doses of study drug is being taken by the subjects). Safety has been excellent with no serious adverse events reported and only 4 drop-outs to date.

The H1N1 virus has been circulating in Perth since the study began. Presumably, some subjects in the study have been exposed to H1N1 virus. This Phase 2 clinical trial's objective is to determine the efficacy of low dose oral interferon in preventing and reducing the severity of infection with influenza viruses such as H1N1, among others.

About Amarillo Biosciences

Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. is a U.S. biotechnology firm operating in global partnership with the Hayashibara Group, which also holds 7% of Amarillo Biosciences shares and has provided over $18 million in loans, grants and equity investments. The Company's primary focus is extensive and ongoing R&D into the use of low-dose, orally administered interferon as a treatment for a variety of conditions, including influenza, hepatitis C, chronic cough, and opportunistic infections in patients who are HIV positive. In its 25-year history, the Company has invested nearly $40 million to establish oral interferon as a therapeutic agent. The majority of those funds were invested in clinical trials in an effort to achieve FDA approval for interferon. Additional information is available on the web site at [ http://www.amarbio.com/ ].

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties related to product development, uncertainties related to the need for regulatory and other government approvals, dependence on proprietary technology, uncertainty of market acceptance of oral interferon or the Company's other product candidates and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see "Item 1. Description of Business" and "Item 7A. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk" of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.