Chronic Fatigue Patients Test New Drug

A group of Utah patients with severe Chronic Fatigue illness will soon begin testing a new drug which attacks viruses and bolsters what could be a defficient immune system.

The clinical trials will be conducted by a new Salt Lake clinic which specializes in the treatment of C.F.

Science Specialist Ed Yeates takes a look.

More Info CFIDS Assoc. of America www.cfids.org OFFER Open House FAQs About Ampligen wwcoco.com Questions about the clinical trial: 359-7400

David Gill or D.J., as his friends call him, has had Chronic Fatigue for seven years.

He's about to graduate from college - and he's getting married next month.

But in the first three years of his illness, he was almost completely immobolized.

David (D.J.) Gill: "I SPENT THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THIS ILLNESS ON THE FLOOR IN MY FAMILY ROOM WITH A PILLOW AND A BLANKET."

Though D.J. still has bad days, they're getting fewer and far between.

And when he does have a crash, as CF patients call it, he rebounds in a week instead of three months.

GILL: "TO SEE WHERE I'VE GOTTEN NOW - SEVEN YEARS LATER - I HAVE HOPE NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR ANYBODY WHO TACKLES THIS KIND OF DISEASE."

Though life is good for DJ now, a novel immune boosting, anti-viral drug called Ampligen might help patients with SEVERE CF, whose fatigue and painful weakness never seems to go away.

That's why this new clinic operated by Dr. Lucinda Bateman will help test the compound.

Lucinda Bateman, M.D.: "EVEN IF THE DRUG IS NOT A MIRACLE CURE FOR CF, IF IT CAN DEMONSTRATE EFFICACY, THEN WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THE DISEASE EXISTS."

ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "FROM THE HALLWAY HERE - EVEN INSIDE THE ROOMS - DR. BATEMAN'S CLINIC MAY LOOK LIKE ANY DOCTOR'S OFFICE - BUT IT ISN'T."

This clinic is designed specifically for the treatment of C.F. Many doctors from Utah and surrounding states refer patients here for extensive evaluation - and then implement the recommended therapies.

A non-profit group called OFFER has also been formed through this clinic to educate the community about CF, and encourage more research. OFFER is planning a special educational event next Thursday as part of Chronic Fatigue Awareness Day.