QUIGLEY CORPORATION (QGLY)

[mjm2005]

AP
Quigley to Test Flu Drug for Birds
Tuesday March 21, 8:20 am ET
Quigley Pharma to Begin Testing Flu Treatment for Use in Bird Populations

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- Quigley Pharma, a unit of medical science company Quigley Corp., said Tuesday that it is planning to test one of its antiviral drug to stop the spread of bird flu in poultry stocks.

The company said that it will test its antiviral compound QR-441 against the H5N1 bird flu strain in healthy birds and then birds infected with H5N1. In lab tests, the compound has been shown the potential to inhibit the virus' ability to infect.

The announcement comes after the Food and Drug Administration proposed a rule Monday that would prohibit the use of human flu treatments in bird populations to conserve the drugs in the event of a human outbreak. There are currently no FDA approved drugs to combat influenza A in birds.

Prohibited products include Endo Pharmaceuticals Symmetrel, Forest Labs' Flumadine, Roche Holding's Tamiflu, and GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060321/quigley_bird_flu.html?.v=1&printer=1