Nutra Pharma Reports Infectech Engages Lake Erie Research Institute for FDA Submissions
Nutra Pharma Corp. (OTCBB:NPHC), a biotechnology holding company that owns rights to intellectual property related to the development of drugs for HIV and Multiple Sclerosis, has announced that its holding, Infectech, Inc. (Pink Sheets:IFEC) has engaged Lake Erie Research Institute, Inc. (LERI) to assist in all FDA device and 510K submissions required for the company to begin commercializing its Identikit technology. The Company anticipates filing their first documentation before the end of the year.
The Lake Erie Research Institute provides wrap-around research services, such as protocol development, statistical analysis, grant writing, business plan development, technology transfer, and other needed expertise. They are being contracted by Infectech to make the proper submissions to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the regulatory approval of the Identikit technology. A successful submission will allow the products to be distributed in the United States.
“I look forward to working with Infectech,” stated Phyllis Kuhn, PhD., President and CEO of LERI. “The request for assistance aligns with the mission of the Lake Erie Research Institute, which is to promote high quality medical research and medical product development. I look forward to their achieving great success in this endeavor,” she added.
“Dr. Kuhn’s assistance with FDA submissions will be an invaluable resource to Infectech,” stated Dr. Mitchell Felder, Infectech’s CEO. “Dr. Kuhn will help Infectech prepare for registration and commercialization of its technologies,” he added.
Infectech owns 29 issued patents related to the rapid isolation, growth, identification and antibiotic sensitivity of disease-causing bacteria. Infectech’s researchers discovered that certain grades of paraffin wax, when used in conjunction with a microscope slide, and combined with a nutrient broth, provides for the rapid isolation, growth and identification of various disease-causing bacteria. Infectech has developed a diagnostic test kit based on this technology. The basic test kit consists of a glass slide coated with paraffin, which is used as a carbon (food) source by certain pathogenic bacterial species such as TB. The slides are incubated in a sample of almost any bodily fluid (a non-invasive sample of saliva is preferred) within a nutrient broth. This creates a semi-solid growth medium for the bacteria, which imitates its natural environment within a human or animal host. The bacteria collect on the paraffin slide in 4-8 days. Testing can then be done to identify the species of bacteria. This testing can be done via acid-fast staining or through PCR gene amplification. Additionally, the bacteria can be cultured with antibiotics to test for specific sensitivities. Through the choice of different nutrient broths, each kit can be tailored to encourage the growth of a specific bacterium. The test kits are being designed to work on a class of bacteria that includes TB, MAC, Para-tuberculosis, Pseudomonas and Nocardia.
“We are very excited about the progress that Infectech has made,” said Rik J. Deitsch, Nutra Pharma’s Chief Executive Officer. “Gaining regulatory approval from the FDA is the next big step for the company. This will allow for the marketing and distribution of the Identikits and the realization of revenues in the near future,” he concluded.
About Nutra Pharma Corp.
Nutra Pharma Corporation is a biotechnology holding company and incubator. The Company’s minority-owned subsidiary, ReceptoPharm, Inc., is developing technologies for the development of drugs for HIV and Multiple Sclerosis (“MS”). The Company’s other holding Infectech, Inc., is engaged in the research and development of diagnostic test kits designed to be used for the rapid identification of infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB) and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI). Nutra Pharma continues to identify and acquire intellectual property and companies in the biotechnology arena.
About Infectech, Inc.
Infectech, Inc. is a biotechnology/genomics company that specializes in the research, development and production of laboratory kits used in the rapid identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing of disease-causing pathogens. The company’s patents span the identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing of a family of disease-causing bacteria that includes: Tuberculosis, Para-tuberculosis, Pseudomonas, M. avium and Nocardia. These bacteria are cited as a prominent cause of death in patients with cancer, cystic fibrosis, and AIDS, as well as in patients undergoing surgery. Infectech’s other patents include technology designed for use in the bioremediation of contaminated soil and water. Additionally, Infectech also owns a patent for the nontoxic induction of apoptosis in cancer cells utilizing hydrophobic hydrocarbons. Apoptosis is a method for inducing a genetically based induction of “cell suicide” in cells. It therefore serves as the foundation for cancer therapy.
About Lake Erie Research Institute
The Lake Erie Research Institute (LERI) is a 501(c) (3) independent, not-for-profit entity whose mission is to foster high quality, health and medically related research and entrepreneurial development. LERI provides wrap-around research services, such as protocol development, statistical analysis, grant writing, business plan development, technology transfer, and other needed expertise. (Contact information: Pkuhnphd@aol.com ).
