Canopus initiates Ph II SpirH trial

Canopus BioPharma, a US biotechnology company developing drugs and assays for infectious disease, radiation sickness, cancer and addiction, has initiated a 30-patient Phase II clinical trial for its new HIV-1 antiviral therapy, SpirH, to determine its potential to delay the onset of full-blown AIDS when used as a monotherapy in early-stage infection.

The cellular mechanism of SpirH is based on the scientific finding, in the late 1990's, that the HIV-1 virus behaves like proteins generated by the human fetus, which sends signals to the mother to lower her immune system and allow successful gestation. In a similar manner, the HIV-1 virus sends a signal to the immune system of the infected patient to make his/her body lower their immune response and allow the virus to multiply. According to the firm, SpirH intercepts this HIV signaling system and allows the immune system to inhibit the HIV viral spread. Canopus BioPharma's research to date shows that SpirH is effective against all strains of the HIV-1 virus, including those from Africa, Thailand, Brazil and the USA.