Fascinated, Hoffman decided to investigate the possibilities of aloe vera on his own. Because all of the medical literature on aloe vera indicated that there was a strong dose/response relationship, Hoffman worked with a leading aloe grower to develop a highly concentrated extract of the whole leaf. An initial supply was produced, and administered to three HIV positive patients. The results, Hoffman said, were just as dramatic as the medical journal articles suggested they would be. All three of his subjects showed immediate improvement and vigor. Most important, not only were the patients feeling better, but their count of "T-cells," the cells the immune system produces to fight off invaders, had sharply increased as well.

Encouraged, Hoffman gave his concentrated aloe vera to still more HIV infected patients. The results were identical. All of them, he told us, demonstrated marked improvement within a few weeks, and all of them experienced significant increases in their T-cell count. After a time, however, as Hoffman utilized aloe vera for other conditions, he came to believe that the aloe was doing more than just increasing T-cells. Such an increase could not, by itself, be responsible for the stunning results he was seeing. There had to be more going on. He finally concluded that his aloe vera concentrate was simultaneously stimulating the body's immune system and modulating the autoimmune system. This made it possible for the body's natural defenses to ward off a wide range of diseases.

Hoffman was excited at the potential for his product, hopefully even as a means of fighting cancer. As we listened to Hoffman's impassioned description of what concentrated aloe vera could do, Neal and I became caught up in his vision too, a vision with the prospect of bringing newfound relief to millions. In fact, what Hoffman was saying about treating serious diseases seemed to be a perfect compliment to something Neal was already interested in: the potential of non-radioactive cesium chloride (a naturally occurring salt) to fight cancer.

Hoffman had an immediate problem: money. He had little experience in business, and had been underwriting his investigation of aloe vera out of his own pocket. His personal resources were exhausted and he was seeking financial backing to continue his work. To Neal, this seemed like a perfect opportunity to combine his interest in alternative medicine and his vast experience in business.

But as a scientist, Neal wanted to see tangible proof of Hoffman's claims before agreeing to help. Hoffman complied, providing a number of patient case histories which Neal carefully checked out. After satisfying himself that Hoffman's claims were indeed valid, Neal agreed to help Hoffman by providing an initial $200,000 in financing to market his product. A company called "T-UP, Inc." was formed to do the marketing, with Allen running day to day operations, and Neal merely providing the capital.