Could Unknown Canopus BioPharma (CBIA:PK) Have the Answer for the Flu Pandemic?

By admin | September 29, 2009

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On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged that a global pandemic of novel influenza A (H1N1) was challenging world health by raising the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6. As of the last report at the end September 2009, the WHO said that there were 3917 worldwide deaths that were associated with H1N1 Influenza A or Swine Flu. Swine flu has been identified in 180 countries. Since the World Health Organization announcement of a flu pandemic, health experts from throughout the world have fueled a fear that swine flu will become a major global pandemic in the winter months, with many countries planning major vaccination campaigns.

Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease that is transmitted through the air by coughs and sneezes. Each year, the flu kills hundreds of thousands and in pandemic years such as 1918, the flu has killed up to 50 million people. Opportunistic infections caused by the flu such as lower respiratory infections are one of the leading causes of death in the world regardless of economic or geographic affinity.

There are four different antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the United States for the treatment of influenza: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to all four drugs, the most recent seven swine influenza viruses isolated from humans are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. At this time, the Centers for Disease Control recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.

Sometimes, the most challenging medical puzzles are solved by using existing molecular entities for new applications. Today, aspirin is widely recommended to at-risk patients throughout the world for the prevention of heart disease and stroke. Celgene, a New Jersey-based company, has built a billion dollar company beginning with the chemical properties of a drug called thalidomide, a drug that was withdrawn from the world market in 1961 for causing severe birth defects.

Based in Kildare, Ireland, Canopus BioPharma, Inc., has identified an effective compound consisting of often used statin and trimethylxanthine in which the combination has shown to be effective in inhibiting viral replication for several influenza strains including H1N1 (Swine Flu). Statins are a group of widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering agents while trimethylxanthine is caffeine. Zofroxia™, Canopus’ patented formulation of stain and trimethylxanthine has affectively inhibited viral replication in animal models for H5N1, H3N2 and H1N1 influenza virus. Since 2006, Canopus has conducted extensive studies to examine the effect of Zofroxia on different strains of the influenza virus.

Together, statins and trimethylxanthine effectively inhibit various stages of the influenza replication cycle while reducing the negative effects of elevated cytokines.

With only 9,645,000 shares outstanding at $1.60 per share, Canopus BioPharma (CBIA:PK) is developing a promising portfolio of clinical candidates. Over 250,000 people throughout the world have been diagnosed with swine flu over the past 12 months and that number is expected to grow. News drives stocks and influenza may dominate the news over the next few months. If that is the case, then Canopus BioPharma, Inc. may be a great way to speculate over what could be labeled as the “flu stocks” over the next few months.

Notice:

1800blogger.com, Inc. has been compensated $3,750 from Canopus BioPharma, Inc. to publicize the Canopus BioPharma, Inc. (CBIA:PK) story to investors. Please read the rest of our disclaimer which could be found by clicking on the link (disclaimer) at the top of any page on this blog.