Introduction: A Chance Meeting That Changed Everything
I still recall my first impression when I met Dr. Gustavo Bounous on a frigid day in Montreal in 1998. His white, disheveled hair gave him an Einstein-like appearance, and after spending time with him, I began to appreciate his mental prowess as well. We seemed to hit it off immediately, and in the months and years that followed, we became good friends.
In the two days I initially spent with him, Gus shared an incredible story with me of painstaking research as well as serendipitous events that later seemed almost providential.
Dr. Bounous’ Groundbreaking Research and Early Clinical Impact
Dr. Bounous graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Turin in Italy in 1952. After completing his residency, he accepted a job first in the United States and later at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He quickly distinguished himself by conducting medical research on hemorrhagic shock, earning a prestigious award from the Royal College of Physicians. Later, he formulated a liquid diet for patients in comas, with a precise balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, along with vital nutrients. It came to be called the Elemental Diet and is currently used in hospitals worldwide.
However, he confessed that he believed his most important research to be the discovery of an undenatured protein around 1978, which allowed animals and humans to synthesize and optimize glutathione at the cellular level.
With the help of Dr. Patricia Kongshavn, the first PhD in Immunology in Canada, he proved the necessity of glutathione for monoclonal expansion of T-cells. So, glutathione, or GSH as it is abbreviated, is absolutely critical for a working immune system.
From Laboratory to Clinic: A New Therapeutic Frontier
By the time I met him, Dr. Bounous had already been involved in numerous clinical trials with this glutathione precursor over the previous 18 years. He called the powder-white protein Immunocal because it impacted immune function and also contained some calories, albeit only 40 calories per 10-gram dose. His research using it with animals had shown a 30% to 50% increase in lifespan, including remarkable increases in immune function. It led to him receiving government approval to do human studies in the 1980s on the devastating epidemic of HIV/AIDS.
The amazing results of the studies revealed a new approach to controlling the virus. With the financial assistance of entrepreneur and real estate magnate Dieter Beer, he was able to accomplish something almost impossible: acquire pharmaceutical patents on a natural product. By 1997, they had already received five Method-of-Use (pharmaceutical) patents on this specially prepared protein, including a method-of-use treatment for HIV. This quickly became recognized worldwide as a scientific breakthrough. Dr. Luc Montagnier, who won the Nobel Prize for discovering HIV, included an entire chapter on Immunocal in his book on Oxidative Stress in Cancer and HIV. Other universities and research centers began to request additional studies on this amazing protein.
Turning Awareness into Action: A Shift into Medical Advocacy
Not only did I become fascinated with the potential of this product, but it also quickly changed my life’s focus. For years, I had been a professional photographer and specialized in advertising. In fact, one of my clients had asked me to lead an advertising campaign for Immunocal, as it was poised to enter the United States from Canada. This led to meeting Dr. Bounous as I researched the company, then known as Immunotec Research, Ltd. Today, the company is known as Immunotec, Inc.
Over the next two years, I spent a great deal of time with Dr. Bounous and also Dr. Jimmy Gutman, who was beginning to write books on the benefits of glutathione. I also took advantage of the vast amount of information now available on glutathione flooding the internet. I raised money with some investors and produced an infomercial on Immunocal, which was very effective with the general public.
Innovations in Immune Support: The Development of Immunocal Platinum
Immunocal continued to gain increasing exposure. By the year 2000, it had been inducted into the Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR), also known as the drug catalog, and was included in the Canadian equivalent, the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS), where it can be found to this day. Next, Immunocal was granted reimbursement status in Medicare, and many states followed suit by including it in Medicaid reimbursement. Around this time, another world-renowned immunologist, Professor Dr. Wulf Dröge, joined forces with Dr. Bounous in Montreal and, within a short period, helped to develop the next generation of Immunocal: Immunocal Platinum. While including the same amount of the original Immunocal in each packet, two and a half grams of additional formulas are added. The Cytokine Modulating Peptides (CMP™) and Redox Modulating Formula (RMF™) are exclusive additions designed to support healthy aging.
Global Expansion and Physician Training Program
The then-president of Immunotec, Chuck Roberts, hired me to travel throughout the United States and train doctors on how the newly approved Medicare reimbursement for Immunocal worked. It quickly gained popularity as a method-of-use treatment for HIV. I also conducted seminars in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, San Francisco, and elsewhere to educate the general public about the importance of glutathione enhancement to their health.
I soon began to receive requests to travel to other countries and speak with groups of doctors about the remarkable benefits of glutathione enhancement. I was able to set up distribution for Immunotec’s products through thousands of distributors that I trained. I have spoken to tens of thousands of people over the years and have had the satisfaction of seeing glutathione help save many lives as a therapeutic agent.
The Science Behind the Claims: What Makes Immunocal Unique
While Immunocal is no longer being reimbursed at this time, the company has recently taken steps to assist healthcare professionals in obtaining the products through other means. At this point, I am focusing on the new medical division within the company. We set up healthcare professionals to purchase at wholesale prices directly from Immunotec, allowing them to have more than a dozen unique products on hand when recommending them to their patients.
Looking back on almost three decades of working in this field, I can say it has been very satisfying. While glutathione is becoming increasingly recognized today (over 191,000 published studies), there is still much misinformation. Most products claiming to raise glutathione either do not or raise extracellular, not intracellular, glutathione. Extracellular GSH does not impact intracellular GSH at all, and additionally, it has a short half-life in the bloodstream, making it only beneficial for a brief period. The same goes for injectable glutathione. Immunocal is unique in that it delivers the exact amount of needed amino acids to the bloodstream, allowing every cell in the body to have the ability to upregulate glutathione —a truly phenomenal discovery.
Ongoing Research: From Neurology to Elite Athletics
Meanwhile, Immunotec, under the guidance of CEO Mauricio Domenzain, has continued to do clinical research in this field and has been rewarded accordingly. When I started working with the company, they had published 18 papers and held five patents. They now hold 79 patents in 26 countries and have published 92 studies. We are now seeing elite athletes, Olympic champions, and entire soccer teams utilize Immunocal due to its significant benefits for muscle growth and performance enhancement, as well as shortening recovery time after intense exercise. It has been approved for all professional sports worldwide by the anti-doping organizations. One of the newest patents involves benefits for autism. Ongoing studies in the field of neuroscience are showing benefits for traumatic brain injury and concussions. Numerous studies show GSH benefits other neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.
For Healthcare Providers: Access, Education, and Resources
I welcome healthcare professionals who would like to obtain more accurate information on the subject to contact me. I can email prerecorded video seminars outlining what glutathione therapy can do for more than 40 different serious health conditions. I can also send the 92 clinical studies by email for your review. Glutathione can truly be a secret weapon for addressing today’s numerous health challenges!
You can contact me by calling me or emailing me at the number or email below:
Ph. +1-305-725-7600
Email: immunejs@gmail.com
Website: immunotec.com/jimspencer
*Disclaimer* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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