Researchers at Tulane Medical School have discovered a human retrovirus called the Human Intracisternal A-type Particle, or HIAP. It is the first A-type retrovirus to have been found in humans. Research data strongly suggests that this virus is the cause of four well-known autoimmune disorders. These disorders are lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus), Sjögren's syndrome, Graves' disease, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The Autoimmune Disease Virus Assay (ADVA) detects antibodies against HIAP. These antibodies appear in approximately 95% of patients with one or more of those four disorders but in fewer than 2% of healthy individuals. The Company believes that infection by this virus may produce the differing symptoms of the disorders in different patients because of genetic variations in the immune systems of the patients.

The published results of a study of an AIDS drug in Sjögren's patients suggest that anti-retroviral drugs may act against this virus.

The ADVA is covered by patents in the U.S. and other countries.

For more information about the HIAP-related disorders, see these pages:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Sjögren's Syndrome
Graves' Disease
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis