California Institute of Molecular Medicine (CIMM) is a life-science company devoted to biotechnology. CIMM was set up to engage in research and development of anti-viral therapies. CIMM has isolated a number of self-replicating viruses such as HTLV-1, HTLV-2, HIV-1, HHV-6, and hepatitis-C virus from a variety of patients. IRB approval and patients consent were obtained before attempting the isolation of these viruses. Currently, these are the only human viruses well studied and well established. Several of these viruses still have the potential of opening up new avenues of investigation. HCV research is one such example. This field of HCV needs appropriate, biologically active, infectious self replicating isolates. Our CIMM-HCV replicates in-vitro, although at low titer proposed therapies can be tested without expensive and time-consuming animal (simian) models. Testing in animals also introduces several unnecessary biases in data set.

Utilizing our own HCV isolates, CIMM has developed a drug which has shown promise in treating HCV infection in-vitro. Preliminary toxicity testing on the drug is also very promising. CIMM has also developed a drug which has shown promise in treating feline leukemia virus (FeLV) which causes leukemia in cats. This itself has a very significant market and can be entered without the expensive and time-consuming process required for the human drug. CIMM has also made substantial progress on a Kupffer cell therapy (replacement of selected liver cells) for liver patients awaiting transplants which could be of great benefit in prolonging survival until a transplant is available.