MARC ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY HIV STUDY RESULTS

Preliminary experimental data from cellular tests conducted by university scientists working under a research grant sponsored by Marc Pharmaceuticals has demonstrated that a betulinol derivative inhibits HIV-1 replication by more than 90 percent with no evidence of detrimental changes to cell viability.

These encouraging early stage results pave the way for further preclinical studies in drug resistant strains of HIV. Betulinol is a naturally occurring compound that is isolated from the outer layer of the bark of the white birch tree. Betulinol derivatives are formed by replacing a specific atom or group of atoms within a betulinol molecule.

Although these results appear to suggest a new composition for inhibiting the HIV virus that causes AIDS, additional preclinical studies are needed to determine the potential of this new derivative.