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

1. 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.
2. 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

1. Rapid method for interrupting the narcotic
   addiction syndrome, US 4,499,096 (1985)
2. Rapid method for interrupting the cocaine and
   amphetamine abuse syndrome US 4,587,243 (1986)
3. Rapid method for attenuating the alcohol
   dependency syndrome, US 4,957,523 (1989)
4. Rapid method for interrupting or attenuating the
   nicotine/tobacco dependency syndrome, US
   5,026,697 (1991)
5. 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
Enzyme Pre Post
ALT 410 50
AST 201 25
GGT 155 33
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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

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

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Future development

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