Some history

During the 1960’s, Dr. Huseyin Ozel, head of the surgical department of Mugla State Hospital in Turkey,experimented with oleander extract to help cure his pet dog.   He subsequently used it to successfully treat cancer in people for more than 35 years . He eventually patented an aqueous extract of Nerium Oleander as ANVIRZEL® (US patent #5,135,745), In late 1999, reports spread that ANVIRZEL® reversed AIDS (regardless of the phase of the disease), arthritis, psoriasis, hepatitis C, and cancer ANVIRZEL® reportedly showed positive results for late stage cancers and even leiomyosarcoma, a cancer normally having a poor prognosis).

Anvirzel™ has both a strong cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effect –  – Boosts immune system function, inhibits tumor growth and promotes apoptosis of tumor cells

Clinical application of ANVIRZEL® in the U.S., Ireland, and Honduras have demonstrated efficacy against various neoplastic disease. hepatic disease such as Hepatitis C, late and early stage HIV/AIDS, as well as autoimmune / inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

Anti-cancer-related studies:

Anticancer and Antiviral Properties of Cardiac Glycosides: A Review to Explore the Mechanism of Actions – PubMed

Anvirzel® regulates cell death through inhibiting GSK-3 activity in human U87 glioma cells – PubMed

Clinical trials using Anvirzel™

Extensive laboratory and clinical experience indicate both cytotoxic and immunological activities for the drug. In developing a protocol for clinical trials, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center states, “It is thought that the polysaccharides present in Oleander Extract are capable of activating the immune cells, which in turn can recognize the epitopes present on the cancer cell surfaces, thereby enhancing the efficacy of the immune response. It is believed that the cytotoxic action present in the extract may be essential for synergistic activities. It is believed that the cytotoxic action both arrests tumor growth and prevents cancer cell reproduction as well as having and/or producing a Tumor Necrosis Factorlike activity. Research has proved conclusively that Oleander extract is active on dual pathways at the cellular level to both inhibit the growth of tumor cells (through the antiangiogenesis activity of the oleandrin) and to promote apoptosis of the tumor cells.

Anvirzel™ effective against several human malignant cell lines – Extensive in vitro research has been conducted by Dr. Robert Newman, Chief of Pharmacology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), Houston, Texas. Dr. Newman has tested Oleander Extract against a broad spectrum of human malignant cell lines, and has demonstrated that Oleander Extract has a high order of efficacy.

Anvirzel™ stimulates immune system cells – In addition to the research being conducted by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, concurrent research is being conducted by Dr. Wendell Winters, a noted immunologist with the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio,Texas. Dr. Winter’s work has confirmed that Oleander Extract has been “shown to stimulate the immune system by stimulation of the function and capability of specific subsets of mononuclear cells.” In addition, Dr. Winters’ research has shown that Oleander Extract specifically stimulates T and B lymphocytes, the cell-mediated and the humoral mediated immune systems.

Anvirzel™ drug approval begun in April 2000 – a USFDA approved study entitled “Phase I Study of ANVIRZEL in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors” was commenced under the direction of Ronald Buckowski, M.D. at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Anvirzel™ indicated as therapy for cancer, viral, autoimmune and inflammatory disease – Because of its strong cytotoxic effect in combination with an equally strong immunomodulatory effect, Oleander Extract is indicated as a therapy, both primary and adjuvant, for cell proliferative disease (cancer), certain viral disease, and autoimmune/inflammatory disease. Clinical application of Oleander Extract in the United States, Ireland, and Honduras has demonstrated efficacy against various neoplastic disease, hepatic disease such as Hepatitis C, late and early stage HIV/AIDS, as well as autoimmune/inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. The results have been determined both by the clinical practitioner and independent laboratory analysis using PET, CT scan, MRI, and hematological screening.

At the very least, Anvirzel™ has improved quality of life – Using Oleander Extract Therapy, international clinicians have been treating patients suffering from the above referenced disorders on a compassionate use basis since 1997. Many of these patients were previously diagnosed as terminal. These clinicians have experienced a very high level of success with disease stabilization, partial remission, and complete remission, almost always accompanied by a very marked improvement in the patients’ quality of life.

Dr. Anibal Villatoro of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Former Executive Director of the Honduran Institute of Social Security (administrator of the public health system) has since January of 1999 been conducting a compassionate use trial with Oleander Extract for HIV (SIDA) patients in Tegucigalpa. His early results indicate a strong level of response to Oleander Extract therapy with a feeling of homeostasis (feeling of well being) and an improved quality of life, as well as significant improvement in their immune systems. (Reports that slipped out in late 1999 showed that Oleander Extract reversed AIDS, no matter what the phase of the disease, arthritis, psoriasis, hepatitis C, and even diabetes in some cases. Initially, Oleander Extract was thought to work only on cancers found early, however, very positive results have been found in people given just weeks to live. To top this all off, Oleander Extract seems to be the first cancer remedy to show positive results for leiomyosarcoma, probably the deadliest of cancers. Oleander extract also crosses the blood-brain barrier (like Poly-MVA) and gives hope to people with brain tumors.)

The “Common Thread” running through almost all of the clinical records of the patient population using Oleander Extract on a compassionate use basis has been the marked improvement in the “quality of life” of those patients. This includes, but is not limited to, homeostasis, marked improvement in pain management with elimination of or marked reduction in use of analgesics, positive response to antibiotics, increased appetite with concomitant weight gain, and increase in energy with reduction of fatigue.

It is illegal to sell or ship ANVIRZEL® within the U.S.

Since Doctor Ozel had claimed that oleander was a cure for cancer, not just a natural supplement, and since his extract was patented and given a trademark, the FDA now considers oleander as an unproven medicine which, because of the toxicity of the raw plant, must have it’s safety and effectiveness proven before the FDA will allow it’s use even as a herbal supplement. (The costly three-phase FDA trial approval process for ANVIRZEL® was begun and the Phase I trial found ANVIRZEL® to be safe, but lack of funding prevented Phase II trials). ANVIRZEL® contains the potentially toxic cardiac glycoside (CG) oleandrin, but for perspective, one of the oldest medications for heart therapy is digoxin, a CG extracted from the toxic plant Digitalis lanata, better known as foxglove.

A company called Salud Integral, based in Honduras (their website provides a lot more information on how ANVIRZEL works) has successfully treated a number of patients for several years and is the source of most clinical trials (they have spent millions of dollars testing and giving away their products to dying cancer patients). Many patients travel from the U.S. both for treatment for various disorders and to purchase supplies of injectable Anvirzel®(very expensive).

BTW – another company, Shimoda Atlantic Oncology Biosciences claimed to have developed its own stronger version of oleander extract named Xenavex™ using an ethanol extraction method, which increased the cardiosides and reduced the polysaccharides. This was exposed as a fraud by Tony Isaacs, since they were actually using “serio neriolini” imported from Russia, which was formulated to treat heart conditions and not cell proliferative disease.