consulting service, has received approval and allowance of his claim

for a patent on a transdermal method of diagnosing and treating AIDS,

hepatitis, cancer, and other infection diseases. He and his associate,

William R. Levis, attending dermatologist at New York Medical

Center, are ready to begin clinical studies at the Bellevue Medical

Center.

"Our product is a generalized immune system stimulant that will

be of value for the diagnosis and treatment of AIDS, hepatitis, Epstein

Barr syndrome, and other viral infections — any situation where

the immune system is compromised," says Kaplan. "It will boost

the immune system, the T-lymphocyte (CD4, CD8) and natural killer

cells, through the dendritic antigen presenting cells — in order

to combat infection without use of outside agents such as interferons."

His company, Pharmaceutical Quality Associates at 20 Nassau Street

(609-683-9484), offers consulting services and product development

for innovative oral and topical drug delivery systems. A native New

Yorker, Kaplan earned his pharmacy degree from Ohio State in 1952

and has a PhD from New York University. After working for Richardson

Vicks he joined Johnson & Johnson, where he was vice president of

research in the Advanced Care Products division. He later worked with

Sterling Winthrop Research in Rensselaer, New York.

AIDS research is shifting dramatically from high activity antiretroviral

therapy to immune system stimulation of immunocompromised patients,

says Kaplan. His patented transdermal compositions contain a safe

and effective delayed sensitizer drug that induces stimulation of

cell-mediated immune responses in responsive patients. AIDS will be

the first FDA-approved use for this treatment, followed by hepatitis,

which often accompanies HIV infections.

"I just had an inquiry from Korea regarding Hepatitis B, an epidemic

sexual transmitted disease," says Kaplan. "Dr. Levis and I

are funding it ourselves through my company here. We are very excited

about it."

— Barbara Fox

Corrections or additions?

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