By: Tomas Ronolski - AllPennyStocks.com News

Monday, September 9, 2013

It’s not exactly popular to talk about, but herpes simplex viruses, or HSV, affect billions of people across the globe. In fact, it’s estimated that up to one-third of the world’s population, or about 2.3 billion people, suffer from various forms of chronic HSV infections. Zooming in to a more specific indication, it’s estimated that the global incidence rate of ocular keratitis, an HSV eye infection, is approximately 1.5 million new cases annually. Ocular keratitis can cause a cornea infection and is the most common cause of cornea-derived blindness, with about 40,000 of those new cases including severe vision impairment or blindness each year. Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corp. (OTCQB:ADMP), a commercial-stage, San Diego-based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on a wide range of diseases and conditions, is aiming to provide relief for HSV conditions with its antimicrobial and spermicidal agent, called C31G. Through two divisions, the company has a large pipeline of pharmaceuticals in development from early to late stages. Three other drugs, for asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and allergic rhinitis, are entering Phase III clinical trials, according to the company’s website.

Adding to its portfolio on August 6, the company announced that it entered into an agreement with 3M Company (NYSE:MMM) to exclusively license and fully acquire (upon additional payment) 3M’s Taper Dry Powder Inhaler technology, a technology currently in development for treatment of asthma and COPD. 3M has been developing the technology to compete in the $34 billion asthma and COPD industry with other dry powder inhalers, such as GlaxoSmithKline’s (NYSE:GSK) Advair Diskus. Last year, Advair sales were around $5 billion.

That news was followed on Monday with an announcement that a recently published study conducted by university researchers found that C31G was effective in treating ocular keratitis in animal models, mimicking the human condition in live rabbits. The study has been published in the latest issue of Antiviral Research. Additional lab research has shown C31G to be effective against HSV-2, the cause of genital herpes. The therapeutic has been shown to be safe and well tolerated in both the clinic and lab.

The research, conducted by Dr. James Hill from Louisiana State University Health Science Center and other investigators, builds upon knowledge of C31G as potentially a new treatment for HSV infections. Adamis previously reported that C31G successfully completed a Phase III contraceptive clinical trial in humans conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Monday’s news isn’t boosting the stock, with it trading lightly with downward pressure to 39 cents, although it does put a light on this little biotech and the potential of a new therapeutic in the herpes simplex virus space. Interestingly, the stock price is near 52-week lows, a point hit early in May before bouncing to 77 cents by the end of the month. Proper due diligence is, as always, encouraged.

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