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 + + + + + + + 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. -end of attachment - end of article-