Ampligen

Rintatolimod (tradename Ampligen®) is a mismatched, double-stranded RNA molecule with immunomodulatory and antiviral properties. The drug acts as a TLR3 agonist which stimulates the production of interferons and tumor necrosis factors. It is manufactured by AIM ImmunoTech, formerly known as Hemispherx Biopharma.

It has been shown to raise natural killer cell (NK) function. Numerous studies have found evidence of reduced NK function in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

As of 2016, it has been approved for severe ME/CFS in Argentina. That same year it was approved for an Early Access Program in EU and Turkey. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not approved Ampligen for wide use in ME/CFS. On January 2, 2018, the FDA approved the compassionate care (expanded access) program AMP-511 which "will allow treatment of up to 100 ME/CFS patients at any one time at approved clinical infusion therapy sites."

History

Ampligen® was based on a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) compound developed by the pharmaceutical company, Merck, in the 1960s, as a potential cancer drug. Though effective in the petri dish, the original compound proved to be too toxic for human use.

William A. Carter, MD, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University, was able to modify the compound in the 1970s to reduce its toxicity (see section below on "Mechanism of action"). The new compound was named Ampligen®, short for “AMPLIfied GENetic activity.” In the 1980s, while a researcher at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Dr. Carter obtained the license for the compound from Johns Hopkins University. He and several other researchers at Hahnemann University affiliated with a small company, Hemispherx, now called AIM ImmunoTech, to manufacture it.

In the late 1980s, AIM ImmunoTech partnered with Dupont to start clinical trials for Ampligen®. After a couple years, Dupont severed its business relationship with AIM ImmunoTech.

Through the years, Dr. Carter's confidence in Ampligen®'s ability to stimulate the body's immune system lead to him offering the drug as a treatment for a variety of diseases including cancer, AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, hepatitis C, Gulf War Illness, swine flu, and ebola. AIM ImmunoTech stated: "...we believe that Ampligen® may have broad-spectrum anti-viral and anti-cancer properties."

This over-confidence resulted in a class action suit by stockholders in 2013.

Testing for efficacy in ME/CFS started in 1990 and continues to the present (see section below on "Drug approval status"). Testing for other conditions has been sporadic. In 2016, the University of Pittsburgh was sponsoring Phase I/II studies using Ampligen® as an adjunct treatment in ovarian, peritoneal, and colorectal cancer. Hahnemann University and AIM ImmunoTech are collaborating on Phase II studies for Ampligen® as a single agent for renal cell carcinoma and melanoma. Georgia Regents University is in the preclinical stage of testing Ampligen® as part of a combination therapy for colorectal cancer and melanoma.

In late fall 2015, Dr. Francis Collins announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was considering the possibility of sponsoring a clinical trial for Ampligen®, as well as Rituximab and other treatments. By the end of 2016, the NIH has not announced any further plans for a clinical trial for either drug.

At the 12th International IACFS/ME Research and Clinical Conference in October 2016, representatives from AIM ImmunoTech announced "that a retrospective analysis of the AMP-516 Phase III trial of Ampligen® in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), segmented primarily by disease duration, showed that 51% of Ampligen® treated patients in a cohort with a disease duration of two to eight years vs. 18% of placebo patients demonstrated at least 25% improvement in placebo-adjusted exercise tolerance whereas the patient subset with less than two years or greater than eight years of disease duration failed to show a clinically-significant response."

Marketing history

Main article: Marketing History of Ampligen

Mechanism of action

Poly I:C12U Source: Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc

The chemical formation of Ampligen® begins with the known immunostimulant called Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (usually abbreviated Poly I:C). Poly I:C is a mismatched double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with one strand being a polymer of inosinic acid and the other strand a polymer of cytidylic acid.

Poly I:C is structurally similar to the type of dsRNA present in some viruses. When introduced into the body it stimulants the immune system because the body thinks a virus is present.

Ampligen® is formed when uridine (one of the five standard nucleosides which form the building blocks of RNA) is introduced into this Poly I:C strand, altering the strand to Poly I:C12U.

As a result, one strand of the dsRNA is a homopolymer, poly rI and annealed to this strand is a heteropolymer, polyC12U.

This alteration increases the compound's instability and shortens the half life to less than 40 minutes after IV administration. Plasma RNase (an enzyme naturally present in blood) degrades the Ampligen® compound into separate ribonucleotides which are completely natural degradation products the body can easily handle, thus lessening its toxicity.

Ampligen® is a TLR3 agonist. It stimulates the production of toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3), which is a naturally occurring protein. we TLR3 recognizes the dsRNA present in some viruses, such as retroviruses, and stimulates a series of biochemical reactions that result is an increase in the production of interferon. Interferon, an important player in the body's immune system, protects against viral infections and activates immune cells, such as NKC.

Evidence

Coxsackie B

In a mouse model, Ampligen® was found to be protective of Coxsackie B3-induced myocarditis.

HHV6

• 1994, A study done by the Department of Biochemistry, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, using IV therapy of Ampligen® "resulted in a significant decrease in Human herpesvirus 6 activity (P < .01) and in downregulation of the 2-5A synthetase/RNase L pathway in temporal association with clinical and neuropsychological improvement."

Efficacy in ME/CFS

• 1995, Long Term Improvements in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treated with Ampligen®
• 2001, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Ampligen, and Quality of Life: A Phenomenological Perspective

• 2004, A study done at the Rega Institute for Medical Research, Belgium on coxsackie B3 virus-induced myocarditis in C3H/HeNHsd mice show Ampligen® markedly reduced the virus titers in the normalized heart electrocardiographic parameters

• 2012, A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial of the TLR-3 agonist rintatolimod in severe cases of chronic fatigue syndrome

• 2012, Hemispherx Biopharma (now AIM ImmunoTech) presented several studies on efficacy at a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) meeting:

The increase of baseline in mean exercise tolerance tests (ETT) improved 95.7% in the group on Ampligen® and 28.2% in the placebo group. (p value= 0.047; slide 81)

A greater percentage of Ampligen® patients (68.0%) decreased their use of concomitant medications used in an attempt to palliate symptoms of CFS compared to the placebo group (54.6%). (slide 59)

No Evidence for induction of autoantibodies with Ampligen® by assessment of Anti-dsDNA and Rheumatoid Factor in 64 randomly selected patients in controlled study AMP-516 at week 32; In the placebo group, 0% developed Anti-dsDNAand one patient (3.7%) developed Rheumatoid Factor autoantibodies. (slide 54)

• 2015, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME): Characteristics of Responders to Rintatolimod

See Ampligen Exercise Tolerance - graph 1 | last4

• 2015, David Strayer, et al., published "Low NK Cell Activity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Relationship to Symptom Severity," in the Journal of Clinical & Cellular Immunology. The study reviewed previous studies that concluded that the more decreased the Natural Killer cell cytotoxicity was in patients, the greater the CFS severity. The study, also, reported that in vitro exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CFS patients (fulfilling both the CDC 1988 and 1994 case definitions) to Ampligen® increased Natural Killer cell cytotoxicity 100-178%.

• 2016, William M. Mitchell published a review in the journal, Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology that stated: "Rintatolimod has achieved statistically significant improvements in primary endpoints in Phase II and Phase III double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials with a generally well tolerated safety profile and supported by open-label trials in the United States and Europe." Mitchell is the Chairman of the Board for AIM ImmunoTech and a Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.

Drug approval status

United States

Source: Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc, Dec 2012

Ampligen® has been passed through five different FDA review divisions since 1990. Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc, now AIM ImmunoTech, wrote in a presentation to the FDA on Dec 20, 2012: "Most products have [the] same review Division during their entire development. Guidance from five (5) different Divisions [has provided] diverged/conflicting advice on major points, such as: interpreting primary endpoints (method of analysis), its collection and analysis, and different thresholds for determining toxicity and safety. In contrast, AIM ImmunoTech has had the same medical monitor for more than 20 years (Dr. David Strayer)."

Source: FDA website

History of AIM ImmunoTech’s application to the FDA for Ampligen

Expanded access

The AMP-511 expanded access program allows a limited number of patients access to Ampligen.

Europe

In 2016 Ampligen® started being made available on a limited basis in Europe.

South America

Argentina (Argentine Republic) has approved the use of Ampligen® for severe ME/CFS on August 23, 2016. Approval is limited to ME/CFS patients who are severely disabled and who have been diagnosed for more than one year.

Notable studies

• 1994, Ampligen inhibits human herpesvirus-6 in vitro.
• 1994, A controlled clinical trial with a specifically configured RNA drug, poly(I).poly(C12U), in chronic fatigue syndrome
• 2004, The Interferon Inducer Ampligen [Poly(I)-Poly(C12U)] Markedly Protects Mice against Coxsackie B3 Virus-Induced Myocarditis - (Full Text)
• 1995, Long Term Improvements in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treated with Ampligen
• 2012, A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial of the TLR-3 agonist rintatolimod in severe cases of chronic fatigue syndrome.
• 2015, Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop
• 2016, Efficacy of rintatolimod in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/ myalgic encephalomyelitis (cfs/me)
• 2020, Effect of disease duration in a randomized Phase III trial of rintatolimod, an immune modulator for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - (Full text)

Clinics

The two clinics that are approved to deliver Ampligen infusions are Sierra Internal Medicine in Incline Village, Nevada, and Hunter-Hopkins Center, North Carolina. Patient numbers are limited. Some patients have moved near to a clinic to minimise travel for the frequent infusions.

See also

Compassionate use.

Experiences of patients on Ampligen®

• April, 1998 Testimony from Karen Lang
• October, 1998, Abstracts of Papers Presented at The Bi-Annual Research Conference of the American Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (AACFS) - Four Patients of the Ampligen® 511 Cinical trial: Karen Lang, Linda Barossi, Steve Edwardsm and Stuart Craig Woolman
• 1999, Testimony before the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Coordinating Committee (CFSCC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services by patient, Mary M. Schweitzer, Ph.D.
• 2012, Jeannette Burmeister's comments to The Advisory Committee Reviewing Ampligen® - (Full text)
• 2012, Tell the FDA: What Have Your Experiences Been on Ampligen®?
• 2012-2013, The New Ampligen® Diaries by Kelvin Lord
• 2012, Anita Patton - What Ampligen® Means To Me
• 2013, Robert Miller's comments to HHS regarding being in a second clinical trial for Ampligen® - (PDF file)
• 2013, Terry, an Ampligen® Patient
• 2016, My 22 years with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (Mary Schweitzer)

Talks, interviewsand news articles

• 2019, A Town for People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - New Yorker - written by an Ampligen patient
• 2016, Small Cap Nation - ME/CFS (Updated) (Thomas Equels, AIM ImmunoTech)

Learn more

• Wikipedia - Rintatolimod
• 1990, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• 1994, The Aids Drug No One Can Have Mindy Kitei (see also Mindy Kitei)
• 2004, Mismatched double-stranded RNA: polyI:polyC12U
• 2012, Ampligen® I: Effectiveness
• 2012, Slide presentation to FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee by Hemispherx - (PDF File)
• 2013, Ampligen® and biomarkers: my testimony to FDA Dec 2012
• 2013, Hemispherx Biopharma,Inc sued in a class action brought by stock holders claiming the company misrepresented whether Ampligen would be FDA approved. The stockholders prevailed.
• 2015, FDA Response Letter Regarding Approval of Ampligen® for ME/CFS - (Letter)
• 2015, Ampligen® price more than doubles - Available soon in Europe
• 2015, FDA Approval of MS Drug Puts Ampligen® Back In Play - (Article)
• 2016, Executive Informational Overview by Crystal Research Associates
• 2016, Hemispherx hires Avrio as Ampligen® CMO while it tries to win US approval
• 2016, Making the Case for Ampligen® in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
• 2016, Ampligen® and CFS
• 2016, Hemispherx Biopharma (HEB) Comments on Recent Meeting with NIH for ME/CFS Research Advancement (see also NIH Post-Infectious ME/CFS Study)
• 2016, Ampligen® Co-Inventor / Head of Hemispherx Biopharma Fired: Implications for ME/CFS Drug Unclear
• 2018, Experimental treatments - Ampligen® doesn't appear to suppress the immune system. Instead, it's believed to change the way your immune system works.
• 2019, A Town for People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - New Yorker - written by an Ampligen patient

See also

• AIM ImmunoTech (formerly Hemispherx Biopharma)
• Nancy Kaiser patient 00

immunomodulator An immunomodulator is a substance that affects the functioning of the immune system

A chemical that binds to the receptor and stimulates it's function, e.g., morphine is an opioid agonist that binds to the opioid receptor, reducing pain. The opposite of an antagonist.

agonist A chemical that binds to the receptor and stimulates it's function, e.g., morphine is an opioid agonist that binds to the opioid receptor, reducing pain. The opposite of an antagonist.

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

involving, related to or in the area of the kidneys

renal involving, related to or in the area of the kidneys

See National Institutes of Health.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) - A set of biomedical research institutes operated by the U.S. government, under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services.

phase three Last phase of clinical trials before a drug can be approved for public use. Whereas Phase one assesses basic safety, and Phase two assesses basic efficacy, Phase three uses many trial participants to fully assess both safety and efficacy, and overall benefit/risk.

See ME/CFS.

plasma The liquid part of blood, lymph, or milk after removing any suspended material. Most of the time, "plasma" simply refers to blood, after all the blood cells have been removed. If you also remove the clotting factors, then the plasma is referred to as "serum".

enzyme a substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.

The use of special strains of mice to study a human disease or condition, and how to prevent and treat it

mouse model The use of special strains of mice to study a human disease or condition, and how to prevent and treat it

double blinded trial A clinical trial is double blinded if neither the participants nor the researchers know which treatment group they are allocated to until after the results are interpreted. This reduces bias. (Learn more: www.nottingham.ac.uk)

autoantibody An antibody that works against the body's own antigens, a hallmark of autoimmune diseases. Autoantibodies are the opposite of an antibodies.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.