U.S. Defense Reports Immuron’s Travelan® demonstrates broad reactivity to Vibrio cholera strains from Southeast Asia indic...
September 04 2019 - 6:00AM
Immuron Limited (ASX: IMC; NASDQ: IMRN), an Australian
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing
oral immunotherapeutics for the prevention and treatment of gut
mediated pathogens, today announced positive results from a recent
study on the immuno-reactivity of its commercially available and
over-the-counter gastrointestinal and digestive health supplement
Travelan® to infectious Vibrio cholera strains from Southeast Asia.
The study, sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Defense and funded through the Defense Health Agency, was performed
at the Department of Enteric Diseases (DED), Armed Forces Research
Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), an overseas laboratory of
the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) located in
Bangkok, Thailand. The goal was to investigate the breadth of
Travelan®‘s immunological reactivity against pathogenic Vibrio
cholera bacterial isolates. Clinical isolates were collected from
infected personnel located in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Thailand,
enabling researchers to gauge Travelan®‘s potential against
bacterial strains typically seen in the field. When compared to a
placebo control, researchers found that the polyclonal antibodies
comprising Immuron’s Travelan® product were reactive to all 71
clinical isolates from these infected individuals. The ability of
Travelan® to bind these bacteria highlights the broad-spectrum
recognition by Travelan® of surface antigens on potentially
debilitating and even life-threatening bacteria.
“These latest results, reported by our
colleagues, adds additional data covering the inter- and
intra-species reactivity of Travelan,” said Dr. Robert Kaminski,
Chief, Subunit Enteric Vaccines and Immunology, Department of
Enteric Infections, Bacterial Diseases Branch, WRAIR. “Last year we
reported that the antibodies in Travelan bound to 180 different
isolates of Campylobacter spp, ETEC, and Shigella spp. The current
study adds an additional 71 different clinical isolates of Vibrio
cholera to the list. This work clearly demonstrates that Travelan
is immune-reactive with all ETEC strains tested including strains
that are not present in the immunising vaccines and cross-reactive
with every Campylobacter, Shigella and Vibrio cholera isolate
tested. These results, together with the findings reported from the
Travelan® shigellosis challenge studies in non-human primates
studies suggest Travelan may be an effective immunoprophylactic for
travelers’ diarrhea caused by Campylobacter spp, Shigella spp and
Vibrio cholera.”
“The response we have recently received from the
investment community to our collaboration with the U.S. DoD has
been quite extraordinary, and in my opinion, this is indicative of
the high significance the investment community places on this
collaborative effort,” said Dr. Gary Jacob, CEO of Immuron. “The
work completed by our research collaborators at the WRAIR has
provided the company with a comprehensive characterization profile
of our flagship product which clearly demonstrates the potential
effectiveness of Travelan® and the Immuron technology platform to
neutralize pathogenic gastrointestinal bacterial infections, and
offers significant potential as a preventive treatment for U.S.
military personnel and civilians stationed or traveling in
locations where such infections may be debilitating.”
An estimated 1.5 billion episodes of diarrhea
occur worldwide each year, resulting in the deaths of approximately
2.2 million people, mostly children in developing countries
throughout the world
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699001/). Shigella
spp are estimated to cause 80 to 165 million cases of disease
worldwide, resulting in 600,000 deaths annually and is particularly
prevalent in both sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. A
preventive treatment that protects against enteric diseases,
specifically shigellosis, is a high priority objective for the U.S.
Army. The global burden of diarrheal diseases outweighs any of the
more complex diseases seen in gastroenterology clinics throughout
the world.
ABOUT IMMURON:Immuron Limited
(ASX: IMC, NASDAQ: IMRN), is an Australian biopharmaceutical
company focused on developing and commercializing orally delivered
targeted polyclonal antibodies for the treatment of inflammatory
mediated and infectious diseases. Immuron has a novel and safe
technology platform with one commercial asset Travelan® generating
revenue. Immuron’s lead clinical candidate, IMM-124E, is presently
being developed as a drug to prevent Travelers’ Diarrhea. Immuron’s
second clinical-stage asset, IMM-529, targets Clostridium difficile
Infections (CDI), and is presently in a clinical trial in CDI
patients. These products together with the Company’s other
preclinical immunotherapy pipeline products currently under
development targeting immune-related and infectious diseases are
anticipated to meet pressing needs in the global immunotherapy
market.
For more information visit:
http://www.immuron.com
About
Travelan®Travelan® is an orally administered
passive immunotherapy that prophylactically reduces the likelihood
of contracting travelers’ diarrhea. Travelan® is a highly purified
tabletized preparation of hyper-immune bovine polyclonal antibodies
and other factors, which when taken with meals bind to
diarrhea-causing bacteria and prevent colonization and the
pathology associated with travelers’ diarrhea. In Australia,
Travelan® is a listed medicine on the Australian Register for
Therapeutic Goods (AUST L 106709) and is indicated to reduce the
risk of Travelers’ Diarrhea, reduce the risk of minor
gastro-intestinal disorders and is antimicrobial. In Canada,
Travelan® is a licensed natural health product (NPN 80046016) and
is indicated to reduce the risk of Travelers’ Diarrhea. In the
U.S., Travelan® is sold as a dietary supplement for digestive tract
protection.
About Travelers’
diarrheaTravelers’ diarrhea is a gastrointestinal
infection with symptoms that include loose, watery (and
occasionally bloody) stools, abdominal cramping, bloating, and
fever, Entropathogenic bacteria are responsible for most cases,
with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) playing a dominant
causative role. Campylobacter spp. are also responsible for a
significant proportion of cases. The more serious infections with
Salmonella spp. the bacillary dysentery organisms belonging to
Shigella spp. and Vibrio spp. (the causative agent of cholera) are
often confused with travelers’ diarrhea as they may be contracted
while travelling and initial symptoms are often
indistinguishable.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This press release may contain “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
each as amended. Such statements include, but are not limited
to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product
development programs and any other statements that are not
historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on
management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating
results, financial condition and stock value. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those currently
anticipated include: risks relating to our growth strategy; our
ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and
strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the
results of research and development activities; risks relating to
the timing of starting and completing clinical trials;
uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our
dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract,
integrate and retain key personnel; the early stage of products
under development; our need for substantial additional funds;
government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters;
competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings.
We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release
publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any
changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such
statement is based, except as required by law.
COMPANY CONTACT:
Gary S. Jacob, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Ph: +61 (0)3 9824 5254
info@immuron.com
AUS INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Peter Taylor
NWR Communications
Ph: +61 (0)4 1203 6231
peter@nwrcommunications.com.au
USA INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Dave Gentry - CEO
RedChip Companies, Inc.
US Ph: +1 (407) 491 4498
dave@redchip.com
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