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ANVIRZELTM
Cytotoxic Agent for Cell
Proliferative Disease (Cancer)
Immunomodulatory Agent for
Immune Disorders
ANVIRZELTM is an internationally patented non-toxic aqueous extract of Nerium oleander composed of both polar and non-polar compounds, and contains at least five polysaccharides, two cardiac glycosides, and five proteins. It is packaged in 10ml vials as a lyophilized powder for reconstitution with bacteriostatic water.
An extract of oleander (Nerium oleander) that contains oleandrin is effacious in the treatment of tumors. This use is species-specific and is correlated with Na, K-ATPase isoforms. Additionally, oleandrin raises the intracellular calcium level, releases cytochrome C from mitochondria, and induces apoptosis through a caspase-dependent pathway.
Also, oleandrin inhibits the release of tumor growth factor bFGF from tumors. bFGF has many tumor-proliferating effects including promoting angiogenesis.
Oleandrin was determined to block the activation of NF-kB, which in turn blocks the cell-survival function of NF-kB. In addition, a non-water-soluble fraction of oleander is able to produce oxygen free-radicals in tumor cells, which may contribute to tumor cell injury and death. Oleandrin, particularly when in the context of oleandrin and oleander extract, is able to cross the blood-brain-barrier.
Evidence suggests that oleandrin and oleander extract have antiviral activity. Development continues as the oleander extract is nontoxic to normal cells and exhibits multiple antitumor activities such as inducing apoptosis, reducing molecular mechanisms of cell survival, and inhibiting tumor-promoting factor bFGF-2.
Research
In addition to the cancer research being conducted by the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, concurrent research has confirmed that ANVIRZEL™ has been "shown to stimulate the immune system by stimulation of the function and capability of specific subsets of mononuclear cells." In addition, research has shown that ANVIRZEL™ specifically stimulates T and B lymphocytes, the cell-mediated and the humoral mediated immune systems.
Anvirzel™ has been the subject of eight prestigious peer-reviewed journal publications.
Is AnvirzelTM Safe?
In April 2000, the United States Food and Drug Administration
approved a study entitled "Phase I Study of ANVIRZELTM in Patients
With Advanced Solid Tumors" was commenced under the direction of Ronald
Buckowski, M.D. at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. The abstract of
their findings was presented at the 2001 annual meeting of the American Society
of Clinical Oncology. This abstract states: “AnvirzelTM can be
safely administered at doses up 1.2 ml/m2/d. No dose limiting
toxicities were found.”
Indications
Because of it's strong cytotoxic effect in combination with an equally strong immunomodulatory effect, ANVIRZEL™ is useful as a therapy, both primary and adjuvant, for cell proliferative disease (cancer), certain viral disease, and autoimmune/inflammatory disease. Clinical application of ANVIRZEL™ in the United States, Ireland, and Honduras have demonstrated inhibitory activity against various neoplastic disease, hepatic disease such as Hepatitis C, as well as autoimmune/inflammatory disease such as psoriasis. The results have been determined both by the clinical practitioner and independent laboratory analysis using PET, CT scan, MRI, and hematological screening.
Anvirzel™ has also been used successfully as a combination therapy with various chemotherapeutic agents, as well as with radiotherapy.
International Clinical Experience Using ANVIRZELTM
Therapy
International clinicians have been treating patients suffering from the above referenced disorders on a compassionate use basis since 1997. Many of these patients were previously diagnosed as terminal. These clinicians have experienced a high level of success with disease stabilization, partial remission, and complete remission, almost always accompanied by a very marked improvement in the patients' quality of life.
Observed Side Effects
"Common Thread" in Clinical
Experience with ANVIRZELTM
The "Common Thread" running through almost all of the clinical records of the patient population using ANVIRZEL™ has been the marked improvement in the "quality of life" of those patients. This includes, but is not limited to, homeostasis, marked improvement in pain management with elimination of or marked reduction in use of analgesics, positive response to antibiotics, increased appetite with concomitant weight gain, and increase in energy with reduction of fatigue.
Standardization and Testing of ANVIRZELTM
Every production run of ANVIRZEL™ is release tested for quality control by laboratories in the U.S. approved by the USFDA prior to patient sales. Additionally, each production run is tested for efficacy in vitro against melanoma (BRO).
Toxicity Studies
A toxicity study was performed by Southern Research
Institute, Birmingham, AL, on 28 beagle dogs, and the study states, "No clinical
signs of toxicity were noted in any of the dogs in this study..."
Another lethality assessment of ANVIRZELTM in a
murine (laboratory mouse) population was conducted by Southwest Research
Institute, San Antonio, TX., and the study states, "On the day of NOI (Nerium
Oleander Extract Injectible) administration and over a subsequent 14 day post
dose period, none of the treated animals showed any pathological signs or ill
effect of the injections as assessed by daily morbidity and mortality
observations."
No reports of toxicity have been received from clinicians
supervising patients experiencing AnvirzelTM therapy.
Conclusion
ANVIRZELTM, in both in vitro and
in vivo experience has demonstrated inhibitory activity against a broad
spectrum of cell proliferative disease (cancer), viral disease, and
autoimmune/inflammatory disease.