InnoVet Inc. on Thursday said a Cornell University study hasdemonstrated unique properties of the company's immunestimulant, which the company plans to license for humantherapy.

IVET 629 was thought to be a non-specific booster of theimmune system, but the Cornell study has shown that the drugcan selectively stimulate B lymphocytes. By stimulating thebody's first line of defense, the compound could prove usefulagainst tumors, as well as infection.

"We will license out its human use to one of the multinationalfirms that have already approached us, by the second quarterof 1992," President Jesse Houdeshell told BioWorld.

The immunostimulant will be the Boca Raton, Fla., animalbiotech company's first product. It will first be marketed for arespiratory syndrome in horses.

Colorado Serum Co. of Denver, a veterinary biologicsmanufacturer, has exclusive manufacturing and co-marketingrights with InnoVet in the United States, Mexico and Canada foruse of the product in various animal species. InnoVet(NASDAQ:IVET) has received a fee for the rights and willreceive sales royalties.

The companies will file a product license application with theU.S. Department of Agriculture for its use in horses by the lasthalf of this year, Houdeshell said.

InnoVet shares closed at $2.50, up 50 cents.

-- Roberta Friedman, Ph.D. Special to BioWorld

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.