IMOD (herbal extract)

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IMOD (short for "Immuno-Modulator Drug") is the name of an herbal drug that Iranian scientists have claimed protects those already infected by HIV from the spread of AIDS by strengthening the immune system. Imod was invented by Iranian scientists in 2006, and its discovery was made public in February 2007 during Iran's planned "Great Achievements" announcements. Though there is a class of real drugs called immunomodulators that include treatments such as interferons and interleukins which are effective against a variety of diseases, no evidence has yet been put forward about Imod's efficacy that can be objectively tested by scientists outside Iran. ^[1]

The medicine has been approved and announced by the Iranian Ministry of Health.^[2] ^[3] As Kamran Baqeri Lankarani, Health Minister of Iran, said, the medicine is produced using nano technology ^[4] - no further details have been given.

The drug has not been peer reviewed by the international scientific community, and other nations have not been given a chance to approve it for use^{[citation needed]}. According to Iran, the drug took five years to develop and has been tested on 200 patients. Widespread testing to measure its efficacy has been promised by Iran.^[5]

The drug's claimed effect is to control or reduce the spread of HIV infection in the human body, and secondarily to control the infection by the virus. Iranian Health Minister Kamran Baqeri Lankarani is quoted as saying "The herbal-made medication, we call it IMOD, serves to rein the AIDS virus and redouble the body’s immunity. It is not a medication to completely kill the virus, it can be used besides other anti-retroviral drugs. The drug is that effective and safe with no proved side effects."

The Iranian health ministry has announced a cure for AIDS on at least one occasion in the past, but recanted its claim some time later^{[citation needed]}. Doubt has been cast on the community of Iranian scientists in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution, since which time many of the top minds in the country have emigrated in a phenomenon known as brain drain^{[citation needed]}. (See Iran's Brain Drain for more information.)

All news coverage concerning IMOD has cited the Fars News Agency as the origin of any information concerning IMOD. The Fars News Agency is affiliated with Iran's judiciary.^[6] Though it reported on IMOD, the less-credible Mehr News Agency is rarely cited due to its affiliation with Iran's Islamic Propagation Organization.^[7]