Aphios Corporation products

An alpha (α)-secretase modulator for ameliorating Alzheimer’s Disease pathophysiology and cognitive impairment with neuroprotection. Aphios is developing APH-1104, a more potent analog of Bryostatin-1, which is neuroprotective by α-secretase activation via novel PKC isoforms, down-regulation of pro-inflammatory and angiogenic processes and the substitution of β-amyloid for its soluble and harmless relative, s-APPα. Aphios has successfully developed and patented efficient methods for manufacturing and formulating APH-1104. In 2008, Aphios investigated APH-1104, a less potent analog of APH-1104, as an intravenous formulation for Alzheimer’s disease in an open-label n=1 clinical trial in the Bahamas. Although limited, the preliminary results of this exploratory study were striking and encouraging.

An enhanced St. John’s Wort botanical product standardized by hyperforin for use as an alternative to prescription antidepressants. Xantol™ is an enhanced St. John’s Wort (SJW) product standardized by hyperforin content [US Patent]. Aphios utilized its patented SuperFluids™ fractionation and manufacturing technologies to develop Xantol™. Aphios is developing Xantol™ for mild to moderate depression, as a natural alternative to prescription antidepressants with adverse side effect profiles.

Flu – A Serious, Deadly Disease with Pandemic Potential. In 1918, the Spanish flu (H1N1 influenza virus) rapidly killed 50 to 100 million people worldwide, affecting one of every five Americans. Today, influenza remains a common and serious respiratory illness that contributes to the reduction of quality of life and results in a significant loss of manpower hours each year. Every year, 40 million Americans catch the flu and 20,000 to 40,000 Americans die from it, making it the deadliest infectious disease in the United States. In the case of a pandemic caused by a mutated H5N1 virus or other flu strain, the mortality rate will increase by several orders of magnitude. Tamiflu® is the leading antiviral effective against H5N1, but there have been instances where the H5N1 virus and mutant strains have become resistant to Tamiflu®. Thus, there is a need for additional effective anti-influenza therapeutics.

An orally bioavailable nanoformulation of betulinic acid that works as an HIV maturation inhibitor. APH-0202 is an oral nanoformulation containing betulinic acid. A pentacyclic triterpene, betulinic acid is a component of the bark of the white birch tree, Betula alba. Phospholipid nanosomes can be utilized to enhance the formulation and efficacy of betulinic acid. Oral bioavailability can be enhanced by nanoencapsulating betulinic acid nanosomes and/or betulinic acid in biodegradable polymer nanospheres.

Vaccination is the most cost-effective tool for the control and prevention of infectious diseases. However, multiple inoculations are often required to achieve desirable protection even with potent antigens. In order to increase the therapeutic efficiency of such vaccines, adjuvants are used with vaccines to augment the immune response. There are several types of adjuvants with different modes of action. Adjuvants form a depot of antigen at the site of inoculation with slow release of antigens. Adjuvants can improve the performance of vaccines by targeting the antigen to antigen-presenting cells, eliciting specific cytokines that direct Th1 or Th2 immune responses. Most of the adjuvants increase the production of specific antibodies. Adjuvants that enhance cell-mediated immunity for vaccines against bioterrorist agents are desirable since many of these agents are intracellular pathogens.