DOYLESTOWN, PA (December 8, 2005) The Quigley Corporation (NASDAQ: QGLY),
announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Quigley Pharma's naturally
derived compound QR-336 once again has shown to protect mice when exposed to a
lethal dose of ionizing radiation. An in-vivo study involving pre-treating mice
with QR-336, followed by lethally irradiating the treated and untreated groups
has shown a four-fold increase (80% survival rate) in mice surviving the
otherwise lethal dose of radiation as compared to the non-treated group.
Results also show that bone marrow extracted from animals that were previously
treated with QR-336 and irradiated, could protect another set of irradiated
animals whereas bone marrow also extracted from untreated, irradiated mice
could not protect lethally irradiated animals.
"These promising results, which further build upon previous in-vivo and
in-vitro work, suggest the usefulness of QR-336 as a radioprotective
agent," said Dr. Richard Rosenbloom, Quigley Pharma's Chief Operations
Officer. "The implications of these findings are timely. Ionizing
radiation even from cosmic sources could effect astronauts and commercial
airline flight crews and has been linked to Leukemia and other pathology. The
development of a naturally derived non-toxic drug could potentially offer some
protection against these effects."
QR-336 was studied in a series of in vitro cellular and in vivo mouse radiation
experiments by Professor Yakov Ron, Department of Molecular Genetics and
Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey (Robert Wood Johnson Medical School).
The test animals were exposed to 9 Gys of Gamma irradiation. Acute radiation
poisoning of 4.5 Gys would be fatal to half the exposed human population. The
protective effect of QR-336 from gamma irradiation was assessed by the ability
of bone marrow (BM) cells to reconstitute lethally irradiated mice. These
experiments provide a strong indication that QR-336 may protect BM stem cells
from irradiation induced cell death. The results of this study further confirm
the results of previous mouse experiments of this compound.
"Results also show that QR-336 may provide a benefit for national
security, the nation and the public at large," added Dr. Rosenbloom.
Quigley Pharma has previously met with the FDA Division of Counterterrorism, as
well as the Division of Medical Imaging and Radiopharmaceutical Drug Products
(DMIRDP) in pre-IND stages. Based on discussions with the FDA, and these newly
encouraging results, Quigley Pharma is moving forward on the next steps towards
an IND for QR-336 as a protective agent against radiation exposure.
The NIH has been tasked by DHHS to develop a strategic plan and research agenda
to guide the development of medical countermeasures against possible terrorist
attacks. In June 2005, the NIH issued a Strategic Plan (NIH Pub. No. 05-5608),
which addresses the lack of protective and therapeutic medical treatments for
radiation exposure. There are several minimally effective therapeutic agents
available, such as those providing decorporation effects. These decorporation
drugs aid in the binding and removal of the radionuclides, following the
exposure to radioactive sources, where damage to the body has already begun.
The properties of QR-336 may indicate the protective treatment category, which
may show a protective effect prior to being exposed to the radioactive source,
offering a greater chance of survival and protective effect.
Quigley Pharma plans to pursue the development program and work with the
necessary government institutions in order to further test the effectiveness of
QR-336.
The Quigley Corporation is the leading developer and marketer of diversified
health products. The company's proven success in launching first-in-category
health solutions supports the Pharma subsidiary in its efforts to develop
strong pharmaceutical compounds targeting diverse conditions such as diabetes
and rheumatoid arthritis with naturally derived compounds and botanicals.
The Quigley Corporation makes no representation that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration or any other regulatory agency will grant an IND for human study
or take any other action to allow the aforementioned compound to be marketed.
Furthermore, no claim is made that the potential medicine discussed here is
safe, effective, or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
About The Quigley Corporation
The Quigley Corporation (Nasdaq: QGLY, http://www.Quigleyco.com) is a
diversified natural health medical science company. Its Cold Remedy segment is
a leading marketer and manufacturer of the COLD-EEZEŽ family of lozenges, gums
and sugar free tablets clinically proven to cut the common cold nearly in half.
COLD-EEZE customers include leading national wholesalers and distributors, as
well as independent and chain food, drug and mass merchandise stores and
pharmacies. The Quigley Corporation has four (4) wholly owned subsidiaries.
Darius International markets health and wellness products through its wholly
owned subsidiary, InnerLight Inc. Quigley Manufacturing Inc. consists of two
FDA approved facilities to manufacture COLD- EEZEŽ lozenges as well as fulfill
other contract manufacturing opportunities. Quigley Pharma Inc.
(http://www.QuigleyPharma.com) conducts research in order to develop and
commercialize a pipeline of patented botanical and naturally derived
prescription drugs.
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 and involve known and unknown risk, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the company's actual performance or achievements to be
materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statement. Factors that impact such
forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in worldwide general
economic conditions, changes in interest rates, government regulations, and
worldwide competition.
