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Time
Magazine Reports On Cinnamon Molecule With ''Insulin-Like
Properties'' For Type-2 Diabetes
PhytoMedical to synthesize newly discovered compounds
from cinnamon for treatment of Type-2 diabetes; Studies show significantly
lower blood levels of glucose, tryglycerides and cholesterol.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan.
10, 2005-- PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:PYTO - News), an early stage
research based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the
discovery, development and eventual commercialization of innovative
plant derived pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compounds, today
reported that Time Magazine's December 6th, 2004, cover story
(The Year in Medicine from A to Z) referenced the benefits of
a molecule found in cinnamon which has "insulin-like properties
that may help people with Type-2 diabetes." A small study of
Type-2 diabetes patients who ingested cinnamon had "significantly
lower blood levels of glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol
after taking cinnamon for 40 days."
Coincidently, on the same day of the Time Magazine cover story, PhytoMedical
announced its intentions to synthesize the active components of several
polyphenolic compounds from cinnamon bark that were isolated and characterized
over a period of ten years by leading scientists. To review the Company's
December 6th, 2004 press release, please click here: http://www.phytomedical.com/IR/PressReleases/20041206-1.html.
Among other objectives, PhytoMedical plans to synthesize these polyphenolic
compounds and characterize their beneficial effects in cell culture
systems, animals and ultimately humans. These compounds, which increase
insulin sensitivity by activating key enzymes that stimulate insulin
receptors while inhibiting the enzymes that deactivate them, have
increased sugar metabolism by a factor of 20 in test tube assays
using fat cells. Impaired sugar and fat metabolism, present in millions
around the world, may lead to Type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases.
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas to help the body use glucose
(sugar) for energy. In people with Type-2 diabetes, either the pancreas
doesn't make enough insulin or the body is unable to use it correctly.
Without sufficient insulin, glucose accumulates in the blood and
urine, and the cells of the body are starved, a condition known as
diabetes - the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, blindness
and lower limb amputations.
Diabetes presently affects over 18.2 million Americans (American
Diabetes Association) and is expected to rise to 30 million by 2030
(Centers for Disease Control). As one of the leading causes of death
and illness worldwide, diabetes costs the American health care system
over $132 billion each year.
"In addition to published studies and a highly successful human
study reported in Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes
Association, it's good to see that a leading and highly reputable
magazine has picked up on the benefits of cinnamon and its incredible
ability to make insulin more efficient," comments Mr. Indy Panchi,
President and CEO of PhytoMedical Technologies.
Mr. Panchi
continues, "Our
job now is to develop a naturally derived synthetic end product
that can be easily ingested as a pill or added to soft drinks
or other liquids, with the end result being lower blood sugar
levels through more efficient use of insulin without the
risk or side effects of currently available pharmacological
treatment options."
About PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc.
PhytoMedical Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:PYTO - News), together with
its wholly owned subsidiaries, is an early stage research based biopharmaceutical
company specializing in the discovery, development and eventual commercialization
of innovative plant derived pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compounds
targeting cachexia, obesity and diabetes.
An estimated 300 new drugs of world-wide importance, worth over
$150 billion, still remain to be discovered amongst the 250,000 species
of higher plants found on earth, of which less than 15% have been
investigated for bioactive compounds. Presently, twenty of the best
selling drugs come from natural sources and 25% of all prescription
drugs contain active compounds originally derived from or patterned
after compounds derived from plants.
BDC-03
Successful in Increasing Lean Muscle Mass and
Reducing Body
Fat Percentage
Named BDC-03, PhytoMedical's first plant derived compound has pharmacologically
active elements that have been successful in reducing body fat percentage,
increasing lean muscle mass and lowering cholesterol in studies of
growing animals.
The same compound, BDC-03, administered over a three month period
to a healthy 45 year old male subject, resulted in a 5% reduction
in body fat and a 15 pound gain in muscle mass, indicating that the
additional weight had been preferentially shifted toward lean muscle
- with no appreciable change in diet or exercise.
Additionally, the male subject did not experience any alterations
in facial or body hair, exacerbation of acne or alterations in liver
function tests, which are androgenic symptoms commonly experienced
after treatment with anabolic steroids.
For obese or overweight individuals, BDC-03's potential capacity
to decrease the deposition of fat and lower cholesterol is a vitally
important therapeutic outcome. However, its prospective ability to
induce overall weight gain in the form of lean muscle mass may well
be the difference between life and death for individuals suffering
from cachexia.
Cachexia, which is characterized by dramatic weight loss, not only
of fatty tissue, but also muscle tissue and bone, is among the most
devastating and life-threatening aspects of AIDS and cancer. Once
the body loses 30% of its lean muscle mass, major organs are affected,
resulting in death.
Sadly, cachexia afflicts 25% of all AIDS patients and upwards of
90% of all advanced cancer patients. In fact, half of all cancer
related deaths are a result of cachexia, not the cancer itself.
Polyphenolic Compounds Increase Sugar Metabolism by a Factor of
20
Diabetes, which results from the body's inability to produce enough
insulin or use it efficiently, affects 18.2 million people in the
United States, or 6.3% of the population (American Diabetes Association).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects this number
to rise to over 30 million by 2030. As the leading cause of end-stage
renal disease, blindness and lower limb amputations, diabetes now
costs the health care system over $132 billion each year.
While the causes of diabetes are not entirely clear, it is known
that diet plays a key role in the prevention and cure of diabetes.
In fact, research studies have shown that aqueous extracts of the
most commonly consumed spice, cinnamon, improves the action of insulin
and helps to control risk factors associated with diabetes including,
glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides and related variables.
One study
published in Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes
Association, showed that as little as one gram a day of cinnamon
- one-fourth of a teaspoon twice a day - can lower blood
sugar by an average of 18 to 29 percent, triglycerides (fatty
acids in the blood) by 23 to 30 percent, LDL (or "bad") cholesterol by
7 to 27 percent and total cholesterol by 12 to 26 percent. Changes
in HDL ("good") cholesterol were not significant. Amazingly, the
study found that the beneficial effects of cinnamon lasted for at
least 20 days after people stopped taking it.
Through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, PhytoMedical
is working towards synthesizing the active components found in cinnamon
and characterizing their beneficial health effects in cell cultures
systems, animals and ultimately humans.
For
additional information, please visit www.PhytoMedical.com
To receive future press releases via email,
please visit http://www.phytomedical.com/investors.php
Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon current expectations
or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events.
Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in
the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they
are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations
and assumptions will prove to have been correct. The reader is cautioned
not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as
these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties,
including but not limited to adverse economic conditions, intense
competition, lack of meaningful research results, entry of new competitors
and products, adverse federal, state and local government regulation,
inadequate capital, unexpected costs and operating deficits, increases
in general and administrative costs, termination of contracts or
agreements, technological obsolescence of the Company's products,
technical problems with the Company's research and products, price
increases for supplies and components, litigation and administrative
proceedings involving the Company, the possible acquisition of new
businesses or technologies that result in operating losses or that
do not perform as anticipated, unanticipated losses, the possible
fluctuation and volatility of the Company's operating results, financial
condition and stock price, losses incurred in litigating and settling
cases, dilution in the Company's ownership of its business, adverse
publicity and news coverage, inability to carry out research, development
and commercialization plans, loss or retirement of key executives
and research scientists, changes in interest rates, inflationary
factors, and other specific risks. In addition, other factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in
the Company's most recent Form 10-QSB and Form 10-KSB filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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