Anatara Lifesciences (ASX:ANR) has provided an update on the recruitment progress for Stage 2 of its pivotal GaRP-IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) trial following the recent changes to recruitment sites.
The company said its focus is on completing the recruitment for Stage 2 before the end of the year. It had previously announced the addition of two new locations to broaden participation.
It said recruitment in Adelaide at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast at the Coastal Digestive Health Research Institute has met with good interest and strong numbers in screening.
The company said it views the current level of trial activity across all sites as reassuring. The minimum target participant number for Stage 2 is 60. While the upper limit remains at 100, the company said it anticipates that recruitment will be able to cease in the mid-range of the design for 60-100 Stage 2 patients.
Anatara’s Executive chair, Dr David Brookes, said, “The additional trial sites have provided the opportunity for IBS sufferers in further geographical locations to participate and are bolstering recruitment to ensure adequate numbers in Stage 2 in the required time frame. Progress continues at a satisfactory rate towards the minimum number of 60 participants sought for Stage 2.
"I strongly encourage interested IBS sufferers with the sub-types of IBS-Diarrhoeal predominant or IBSMixed pattern, and who are in proximity to a trial site, to submit their expression of interest as soon as convenient so as not to be disappointed. It is simply a matter of going to the Anatara website or by using ibstrial.au to find the link to the clinic in their geographical zone to register an interest. From there, the next step is an online questionnaire before deciding on consent and a clinic visit.
"The trial of our GaRP product as potentially an emerging treatment for a difficult medical condition is a significant commitment and we appreciate the contribution of the participants to selflessly consider and comply with the trial conditions. On behalf of the Company, the investigators and staff of the trial sites, I again take the opportunity to thank all those who have expressed interest to be involved including those that did not meet the criteria to be enrolled.”