Hemispherx Biopharma Reports Low NK Cell Activity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Relationship to Disease Symptoms

Hemispherx Biopharma (NYSE MKT: HEB) announced today the publication in the current issue of the peer reviewed Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology (Strayer D, et al, J Clin Cell Immunol 2015;6:4 http://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9899.1000348) an article entitled "Low NK Cell Activity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Relationship to Symptom Severity" in which 17 studies were reviewed that evaluated NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) data and the relationship to different CFS case definitions and CFS disease severity. NK cells are an important component of the human immune response acting as a surveillance mechanism against invading pathogens and tumor cells. The review includes evidence that there is an association between decreased NK cell activity and increased CFS symptomatology. New data was also reported in this publication, of in vitro exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 15 CFS patients (mean average age 47.5 years and median age 46.1 years, 67% are female). These data indicated than in vitro treatment with Ampligen®, an experimental biotherapeutic, produced a 178% increase in mean NK activity (NKCC) and a 100% increase in median NK activity (NKCC). Patients in the study meet both the 1988 and 1994 case definitions of CFS as advanced by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Further clinical studies are now underway in the U.S. to evaluate the interrelationships between CFS disease severity, dysfunction of NK cells, and therapeutic response to Ampligen®, an experimental biotherapeutic.