SHANGHAI, China, Jan. 4 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Nutra Pharma Corp. (BULLETIN BOARD: NPHC) , a biotechnology holding company that owns rights to intellectual property related to the development of drugs for HIV and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has announced that their continuing microarray studies have identified a new gene involved in the disease process of Multiple Sclerosis. Although the gene and some of its functions are already known, this is the first evidence of involvement with the disease state of MS. The research also provides evidence that RPI-78M modulates the expression of this gene in laboratory assays. RPI-78M is the lead drug candidate of Nutra Pharma's holding, ReceptoPharm, Inc. and is being studied in preclinical assays for its efficacy in treating MS.

Eno Research and Development, Inc. (ERDI) was contracted by Nutra Pharma to analyze samples of immune cells and brain lesion material from MS patients, with and without the addition of RPI-78M. They measured the changes in gene expression that occurred with treatment. Statistical evaluation of the data revealed more than sixty genes with significant changes in expression as a result of exposure to RPI-78M. In analyzing the affected genes, at least thirty of them may have a specific role in the progression of the disease and symptoms of MS.

"While RPI-78M alters the regulation of genes known to be involved with MS, we are especially excited by the modulation of this gene previously unassociated with MS at all. Work to further characterize the involvement of this gene in the disease progression of MS is ongoing," commented James Flowers, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Eno Research and Development, Inc. (ERDI). "The data from this study suggests that RPI-78M may aid the patient in reversing some of the damage caused by MS. It is notable that if these results were replicated in the patient population it may greatly reduce the severity of the disease," he concluded. There has been a great deal of interest surrounding research in Multiple Sclerosis therapies. There are currently four drugs on the market for the treatment of the disease. A fifth drug, Tysabri, was voluntarily pulled from the marketplace in February by the drug's manufacturers, Biogen-Idec and Elan.

"We are working diligently with ERDI to bring this information to the scientific community," commented Rik J Deitsch, Chief Executive Officer of Nutra Pharma. "We expect to present the data at related conferences and to seek publication of the finished work. We are also seeking to patent this gene as a potential new target for MS therapies. If we are successful, the patent may provide revenues through partnerships and licensing. These studies, when coupled with the positive results in the animal models, create substantial evidence of the drug's effects against MS," he added.

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system, the body's principal defense against foreign substances such as bacteria, mistakenly attacks normal tissues of the central nervous system. It afflicts approximately 400,000 people in the United States and more than 2.5 million worldwide. Specifically, the disease results in damage to a fatty tissue called myelin that surrounds and protects nerve fibers, creating scarring (sclerosis) that interferes with the normal transmission of nerve impulses. This damage, in turn, leads to a variety of chronic and highly individual and unpredictable neurological symptoms, ranging from movement and balance problems to vision impairment. The disease is largely caused by activation of a specific subset of the patient's own white blood cells, T-cells that then attack the myelin and are largely responsible for disease progression.

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