Strong Results against Influenza in new SCN Study
Recent studies show that SCN’s patented and trademark protected immune stimulating product Immulina gives good protection against the influenza virus H1N1, similar to the ‘bird flu’ virus H5N1. The financial potential of this is significant, as the results may enable new virus treatments and ways to strengthen the immune system in both humans and animals.
Recent results from animal studies commissioned by Scandinavian Clinical Nutrition (SCN) and carried out at the Louisiana State University in USA indicate that SCN’s immune-modulating product Immulina gives good protection against the influenza virus H1N1. The H1N1 virus has several sub-strains, and causes flu symptoms in both humans and animals, particularly in pigs and birds. A certain sub-strain of H1N1 is believed to have caused “the Spanish flu”, the global influenza epidemic of 1918-19 which killed millions of people across the world.
The results of the SCN study show that groups of animals pre-treated with Immulina are less affected by the H1N1 infection than untreated littermates, both in terms of fewer symptoms and significantly less lung tissue damage. Corresponding studies cannot be done on humans, since deliberately causing an infection that gives serious symptoms is not an option, but a recent publication from the Danish hospital Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen shows that Immulina activates the cellular immune response in humans as well, by elevating the levels of immune cells that protect us from infections of viruses and bacteria.
“These results are very interesting, and reinforce our belief that Immulina is a product with great potential when it comes to strengthening the immune defense system. This is especially interesting right now, as recent newspaper articles in for example Berlingske Tidende have referred to problems with influenza treatment and prevention with existing medication. The American Government Agency Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recently warned that the prevalence of influenza A (H1N1) virus strains that are resistant to the antiviral medication oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) is high. The demand for effective ways to stimulate natural defense mechanisms is increasing, and in this context, we are very excited about the result of our study, and will of course continue conducting studies on Immulina to further strengthen the documentation of the product”, says Dan Edwall, VP R&D at SCN.