Ibogaine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

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Ibogaine in the treatment ofchronic hepatitis C

• Howard S. Lotsof.
• President
• Dora Weiner Foundation
• Staten Island, NY
• http//www.doraweiner.org

6th National Conference on Harm
Reduction Oakland, California, November 2006
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Forms of ibogaine in current use

• Botanical - root bark
• Total alkaloid extract
• purified ibogaine

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Tabernanthe iboga shrub
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Roots contain ibogaine
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Total Alkaloid Extract
Large piece 2cm x 2cm, approx 4 grams Estimate
15 ibogaine Courtesy Sara Glatt
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Ibogaine HCl
99.4 purity
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Hepatitis C (HCV)timeline

• 1973 Non A, Non B hepatitis is described
• 1989 HCV RNA virus identified
• 1990 Anti HCV effects of ibogaine reported
• 2005 Patent application for ibogaine to treat
  chronic HCV

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HCV infection

• Most common viral infection in the
• United States
• New infections per year 1990 - 242,000
• New infections per year 2001 - 25,000
• New infections per year 2004 - 25,000
• Greater than 75 of IVDUs test positive

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Science follows patent development

• The discovery of ibogaines use in treating both
  chemical dependence and HCV was by ibogaine
  activist advocates who were themselves treated
  or self-treated with ibogaine.
• Scientific research followed patent development
  in the treatment of chemical dependence and it is
  hoped the same will be true for ibogaine related
  HCV research.

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Ibogaine Patents

• Rapid method for interrupting the narcotic
  addiction syndrome, US 4,499,096 (1985)
• Rapid method for interrupting the cocaine and
  amphetamine abuse syndrome US 4,587,243 (1986)
• Rapid method for attenuating the alcohol
  dependency syndrome, US 4,957,523 (1989)
• Rapid method for interrupting or attenuating the
  nicotine/tobacco dependency syndrome, US
  5,026,697 (1991)
• Rapid method for interrupting or attenuating
  poly-drug dependency syndromes, US 5, 124,994
  (1992)

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Research follows skepticism

• Broad ranging claims of ibogaine to treat
  multiple forms of chemical dependence doubted
• Over time, all claims for treating chemical
  dependence have been confirmed by research
• Opioids,
• stimulants,
• Alcohol
• nicotine

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Opioids
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Cocaine
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Alcohol
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Nicotine
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Ibogaine activist organizations playrole in
ibogaine HCV research

• International Coalition for Addict Self-Help
  (ICASH) 1989
• Dutch Addict Self-Help (DASH) 1990
• Ibogaine Underground 2004

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HCV patent application
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Example 1 Report
A thirty-three year old male diagnosed with HCV
and using 1/4 gram of heroin a day was
administered 25 mg/kg ibogaine HCl. Following
administration of ibogaine heroin use ceased
along with swelling of the liver and pain in the
area of the liver.
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Example 2 Liver enzyme values reduced by 14
mg/kg ibogaine
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Example 3
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Example. 4
A forty-two year old female testing positive for
HCV RNA type 3. RNA IU/ml was 12,600,000.
Subject was administered a total of 27 mg/kg
ibogaine HCl in the following regimen 6 x 2
mg/kg 1 x 12 mg/kg 1 x 3 mg/kg HCV RNA IU/ml was
reduced to 50,100. Prior to ibogaine treatment
patients urine was dark and stool light. Post
treatment color of urine and stool returned to
normal.
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Encouraging results

• Repetitive low dosing with ibogaine provided
  continuous depression of viral load.
• Genotype 3 appears highly responsive in keeping
  with results of interferon riboviron therapy.
• Continued reduction in viral load after stopping
  of ibogaine therapy observed.
• Less toxic than current HCV therapies.

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Future development

• Interest of pharmaceutical companies with
  experience in development of HCV drugs.
• Preclinical confirmation of efficacy if possible.
• Phase I/II clinical studies to confirm findings
  and establish preferred dose regimen.