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Boston Business Journal September 9, 2003
Aphios wins NIH
grant for smallpox research Biotech firm Aphios Corp. of Woburn announced Tuesday that the company has won a $265,000 grant from National Institutes of Health to uncover possible smallpox cures from compounds discovered in marine micro-organisms. Smallpox has been all but wiped out in many countries thanks to stringent inoculation programs, but the infectious disease has garnered additional attention since 2001 as a possible weapon for terrorists. Smallpox mortality is very high, approximately 30 percent, according to Aphios, and the virulent pathogen is thought to be available on the black market. While the US has
sufficient vaccines onhand to vaccinate the entire population, according
to a press release issued by Aphios, there are logistical concerns.
There are also concerns regarding potential adverse side-effects for
the elderly, sick and those with immune system deficiencies. Dr. Trevor
Castor, CEO of Aphios, said in a statement, "Some of these concerns
can be addessed by developing safe and effective anti-smallpox therapeutics
that can be stockpiled." Aphios plans to use its library of marine
molecules to uncover possible smallpox fighters. |
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