Department of Health (NYSDOH) Cited for Stifling Breakthrough Medical Technology

/EIN News/ New York - April 8, 2009 - The U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC, and the NYS Department of Labor, Albany, were alerted to actions of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), impeding the research and development of innovative medical technologies.

According to Gerard Sunnen, MD, past president and director of research for Medizone International, Inc., the DOH prevented a landmark study from proceeding to completion. Details about this incident may be found in press releases entitled, “New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) stops a world-first U.S.- Egyptian collaborative study on hepatitis C and blood ozonation.”

In a conjoint agreement, the Egyptian Ministry of Health, the National Research=2 0Centre (NRC) in Cairo, and Medizone, contracted to find solutions for Egypt's huge public health problem: hepatitis C. Indeed, Egypt, by far, today has the highest prevalence in the world for this potentially fatal disease afflicting up to 8 million of its citizens. In the U.S. about 4 million are affected.

Ozone is increasingly studied around the world for its potential medical applications. Over 3000 municipal water purification systems worldwide capitalize on ozone's remarkable property for inactivating all manner of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Applying this unique member of the oxygen family to wound healing in humans - and animals - was reported decades ago; but it is only recently that technologies capable of properly manufacturing and delivering ozone for medical uses have been developed.

Applied topically and enclosed in specially configured envelopes, ozone-oxygen mixtures can rid wounds of pathogens and stimulate circulation. Ideal candidates for this therapy are diabetic and pressure skin ulcers, lesions due venous insufficiency, poorly- healing surgical wounds, and burns.

“The Egyptian study, on the other hand, sought to explore ozone's reported stimulation of immune functions, when administered at extremely low doses. In hepatitis C this would translate to a reduced viral load and improved liver enzyme profiles. Interest for this approach also has to do with its lower cost compared to current therapies,” Dr. Sunnen said.

“Reasons for the NYSDOH's stopping the hepatitis C study are anybody's conjecture. The idea that a state agency can directly meddle into the corporate affairs of a public company and essentially halt its operations is surprising, and frankly somewhat disturbing,” Dr. Sunnen said, adding, “However relevant to the equation, it may be enlightening to realize that the markets for hepatitis C medications and for wound healing therapies are simply huge, and the tendency is for protecting them.”

“The completion of the hepatitis study would have paved the way for the U.S. to become a world leader in ozone-based medical technologies,” Dr. Sunnen emphasized. “As of now, Germany, Russia, Japan, Italy and Brazil are far in the lead. Furthermore, upon the study's completion, planning was well under way to greatly expand our manufacturing capacities. This would have meant the creation of numerous jobs.”

Dr. Sunnen, now president of Ozonics International, LLC, whose presentation at an upcoming international congress on ozone-based medical therapies in Spain will attempt to promote U.S. interests, states, “Let us hope that we can catch up, and at least partner evenly with other countries for the future development of medical ozone technologies; and let us pray that we will not encounter further impediments to our progress.”

For more information:
Gerard Sunnen, M.D.
President, Ozonics International, LLC
200 East 33 Street
New York, NY 10016