Clintec Nutrition Co., a joint venture between BaxterHealthcare Corp. and Nestle S.A., has received Food and DrugAdministration permission to begin Phase I clinical trials ofProcysteine, an anti-AIDS drug.

Procysteine, a precursor of the naturally occurring amino acidL-cysteine, stimulates the synthesis of glutathione.Experiments conducted by Dr. Anthony Fauci of the NationalInstitutes of Health demonstrate that glutathione inhibitsreplication of the HIV virus in test tubes, according to Clintecspokesman Jim Kaczkowski.

Procysteine was developed at the Cornell University MedicalCollege. Clintec, located in Deerfield, Ill., has acquiredexclusive use of all Procysteine patents and will initiatePhase I trials immediately.

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