Ionic Silver Complex May Replace Many Antibiotics FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BW HealthWire) via NewsEdge Corporation -- Invision International, Inc., a privately held firm, has made arrangements to begin clinical trials of its ionic silver complex technology, called Opti-Silver(TM), in pursuit of FDA drug approvals for a wide spectrum of germ-killing and tissue-regenerating applications in and on the body.
Opti-Silver(TM), a non-toxic, water-based formulation that lends itself to universal application internally and topically, has the potential to render many traditional antibiotics obsolete. The company anticipates a broad range of medical and veterinary uses. According to Jay Newman, President of Invision International, enthusiastic reports from consumers and medical practitioners using Opti-Silver(TM) technology indicate that a revolution in the use of antibiotics may be imminent. Clinical trials are the next step in bringing about such change, which the company plans to pursue for many disease conditions. Two medical clinics in Northern California are scheduled to begin the initial human trials before the end of this year. Trials in other clinics are also being arranged. Silver ions are known to kill virtually all bacteria that lead to all common infections. They are also believed by some to be effective against a substantial number of viruses and fungi, and to be remarkably effective at assisting the body in regenerating tissue. Ionic silver is also reputed by progressive cancer treatment centers as being highly effective against cancer, and is believed to be the primary substance used by AIDS victims on their own. Silver ions are completely harmless to mammalian cells when used in the small quantities needed to kill germs. Delivering silver ions to the body, however, is a huge challenge because they instantly bind up with other agents in the mouth or on the skin, and thereby become inert, in the absence of a controlled release system. Previous forms of ionic silver have been incapable of efficiently providing this controlled release. Opti-Silver(TM) utilizes proprietary technology for complexing silver ions with citrate in such a way that the silver ions are released in a controlled manner upon exposure to the body's chemistry, providing a gradual release of the silver ions and facilitating the spread of the silver ions through the body. The citrate not only provides the efficiently controlled release of silver ions, but it is also an excellent internal carrier since it is a key constituent of the metabolic system and is readily drawn to the body's cells. Opti-Silver(TM), which consists of silver ions, citrate, potassium and water, is entirely safe. The use of silver ion technology has been increasing rapidly in the past few years and even more so in the recent months. The FDA has approved medical devices such as catheters, as well as topical film and fabric dressings, that release silver ions to prevent infection and heal tissue. According to the doctors using them in hospitals, these silver ion products are demonstrating superb performance and far outperforming traditional antibiotics. A system for releasing silver ions into the water supply has been approved by the FDA for preventing the germ that causes Legionnaires' Disease and is now beginning to be installed in hospitals. Technology for introducing silver ions into public water systems for sanitation is now being licensed to a growing number of countries and is also being used in pharmacies to sterilize equipment and instruments. A silver coating is now being used to prevent cross-contamination on household items such as cutting boards and bath mats and a major pharmaceutical company has recently introduced a tooth brush that incorporates this technology for killing bacteria in the mouth. Invision International has focused its efforts exclusively on what it sees as the much broader area of disease prevention and treatment, developing products to be used directly in or on the body. The worldwide antibiotic market is in the realm of $15-billion. "In vivo" trials, wherein the product is tested on humans who have actual disease conditions (rather than in test tubes or petri dishes in a laboratory, which is called "in vitro" testing), is essential with silver ion technology because of the fact that silver ions will bind up with a host of agents in the body and on the skin if there is not an effective delivery system incorporated into the formulation. One company recently announced that it has had promising success with their silver formulation in lab tests, but Mr. Newman points out that such tests are meaningless due to the imperative need for an effective delivery system when using silver ions to kill germs in or on the body, which, according to Newman, that other company's formulation apparently does not have. Invision International currently makes a dietary supplement called Silver 100(TM), which contains Opti-Silver(TM) as the key ingredient. The company has received many reports of remarkable results using Silver 100(TM), and a number of doctors use and sell it in their practices. However, because it has not undergone any clinical trials or received any FDA drug approvals as yet, it is sold without any claims that it is intended to prevent or treat any conditions of disease. Silver 100(TM) is sold in many health food stores and pharmacies and is carried by national distributors in those markets. Invision International also sells Silver 100(TM) directly to consumers, primarily through its web site. The potential medical uses for the Opti-Silver(TM) technology are, indeed, quite far-reaching in scope if the clinical trials result as the company expects. "We are extremely confident in the outcomes that will result from clinical trials," Newman said. "There is very little room for surprise at this point, and all of the ingredients are well known to be completely harmless internally and externally when used in the amounts that we use." Burn centers have used silver in a topical cream for years, and until recently it was mandated by law in many states that silver nitrate drops be applied in the eyes of newborns to prevent infection. However, these substances are toxic due to the presence of other ingredients besides the silver and, moreover, they lack an efficient delivery system which is so essential for using silver ions in or on the body. "We have solved the ion delivery issue, while giving the public an entirely non-toxic product," Newman said. The introduction of a viable alternative to traditional antibiotics is long overdue in light of the many difficulties that arise from antibiotic use. In addition to being non-toxic, the use of silver ions to kill germs apparently does not result in the development of resistant strains and mutated super-germs as the use of traditional antibiotics often does. Traditional antibiotics are only capable of killing about a dozen strains of bacteria, and are useless against viruses and fungal conditions. Invision International has been privately funded to date, largely through investments by its customers. It is presently negotiating with venture capital funding sources in Northern California, and anticipates that in the future it may go public. "We plan to change the world of antibiotics," said Newman, "both in financial terms and in humanitarian terms." The information herein includes forward-looking statements reflecting the Company's judgment as of the date of this release which by their very nature are of a speculative nature and should not be relied upon as indicators of future performance. The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Neither the information herein nor the products to which it pertains are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Opti-Silver(TM) and Silver 100(TM) are trademarks of Invision International, Inc. For more information call Invision International at 1-800-4-LIVING (1-800-454-8464) or visit their web site at www.silver100.com. -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: silver-list-requ...@eskimo.com -or- silver-digest-requ...@eskimo.com with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. 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