OxyFile #129

National Defence
National Defence Headquarters
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K2


13 January 1995

Dear Mr. XXXXXXX

In response to your request for my opinion on ozone therapy as it 
relates to the medical management of AIDS patients, the attached is 
forwarded for your information and further use as required.

It is respectfully requested that, should this material be passed on 
to other media groups, it be reproduced in its entirety.

Please feel free to contact me at any time regarding our progress with 
the Cornell Study.


Best wishes


M.E. Shannon, Cmdre
Deputy Surgeon General


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Notwithstanding the negative findings of Dr. Garber's 1991 clinical 
trial, I firmly believe that ozone therapy has potential to play a 
valuable role in the medical management of AIDS.  From a regulatory 
point of view, it is clear that not all forms of ozone therapy will be 
considered sufficiently safe and/or efficacious in this regard; 
however, there is no doubt in my mind that a protocol will eventually 
emerge with proven benefit.

Looking back at my past experience with minor autohemotherapy in the 
treatment of AIDS, there still remains a discrepancy between the Phase 
1a and 1b trial results, which may, in part, relate to the lack of 
sophisticated technology to control for O3 concentrations in both 
trials.  Given the lack of any significant therapeutic breakthroughs 
in the treatment of AIDS since that ill-fated trial and the growing 
testimonial support for its efficacy, the need for further clinical 
research with Ozone is certainly indicated.  It is indeed unfortunate 
that the North American medical community and its funding agencies 
could not take a more neutral stance on this subject; tragically, 
professional opinion has been somewhat polarized on this issue.  I 
believe that it is time to take the emotion out of the arguments, both 
pro and con, and commence a systematic examination of the evidence 
currently available on the merits of this therapy.  Where information 
gaps exist (particularly in peer-reviewed scientific studies) which 
might preclude any regulatory decision on the validity of certain 
claims, properly designed research initiatives should be encouraged 
with the same kind of public support normally afforded any other 
scientific endeavour of this import.

Although I have my doubts that ozone will ever be shown to have 
certain curative value on AIDS, I am certain that its well-documented 
analgesic effects and hence, its potential impact on patient well-
being and quality of life, will someday be recognized.  In this 
regard, I understand that both the FDA and the National Institute of 
Health are presently reviewing the therapeutic merits of ozone as part 
of their program to investigate a number of "alternative approaches" 
to AIDS therapy.  I have the utmost confidence that in their continued 
pursuit of an answer to this problem, ozone will receive the 
scientific attention and support it rightfully deserves.


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