We have been conducting researches on FPP on the theme of "Healthy Aging", aimed at achieving to reduce medical costs though preventive medicine.

On February 8^th, Prof. Luc Montagnier died at the American Hospital of Paris at the age of 89. He had been one of good friends of mine for more than 30 years and a member of advisory board of the Osato Research Institute. After discovering the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in1983, he co-founded the World Foundation Aids Research and Prevention (WFARP) at the UNESCO in Paris with Dr. Mayor Federico Mayor, ex-Director General of UNESCO to focus. His achievement led him to win the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Thanks to his HIV discovery and the efforts of researchers and pharmaceutical companies worldwide, development of effective antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV has turned what was once an almost always fatal infection into a manageable chronic condition by reducing the amount of the virus in the blood close to zero. He invited me and my wife to the Novel Prize Awards Ceremony held on December 10^th2008 at Grand Hotel Stockholm and we spent a wonderful winter time during the Nobel Week with Prof. Montagnier. I can remember the moment as if it had happened only recently.

Also, Prof. Montagnier linked oxidative stress to virus infections, degenerative diseases and chronic diseases, focusing on FPP (Fermented Papaya Preparation) faster than anybody. In his personal audience with Pope John Paul II (suffering from Parkinson's) in 2002, he handed directly FPP to the Pope and recommended treatment. The Pope's recovery appeared as a top news in the French and Italian newspapers and television news broadcasts.

Regarding COVID-19, I received a phone call from Prof. Montagnier in early January 2020 when he was in Guangzhou City, in China which is the country where the novel coronavirus epidemic first broke. He launched into his theory on COVID-19 from a very early stage, based on his knowledge acquired through his researches as virologist.　Since he was very open and candid in the best interests for others, his opinion caused considerable friction. However, he said "Since I am already in my late eighties and have nothing to lose, I tell the truth to do things for people." People in France reacted negatively in the beginning, but he gained broad support now. He was of the opinion that this disease can be cured and we can recover from it and it is the best to cure it with natural immunity after reducing the virus using inhibitors.

I would like to introduce the high point of his last interview, which was conducted by the Italian journalist Ms. Margherita Enrico in June 2021:

Margherita: Is there a natural way to protect ourselves from this novel coronavirus and any future pandemics?
Prof. Luc Montagnier: We have a lot of ways at our disposal: Vitamin C, Interferon, cytokines, but above all the Japanese bio-fermented papaya, of which I am talking since years. I am sure that his Japanese Papaya helps us to keep the correct functioning of the immune system and the body's natural defenses. It optimizes also the antioxidant system, counteracting the damage caused by the free radicals, especially inflammation, and disadvantaging the infection.

I remember that he loved cats and enjoyed taking a nap with my cat named Aston when he visited my house in Gifu.

Lastly, I would like to continue to making efforts for HIV preventive education to protect health of young people according to the wish of Prof. Montagnier as well as for contribution to reduction of medical costs in super-aging societies through Preventive Medicine.

Osato Research Institute President Yuki Hayashi

■Prof. Luc Montagnier was awarded the Nobel Prize in Phyology or Medicine in 2008.
https://en.ori-japan.com/news/backnumber/research/2008.html