Immuron (ASX:IMC) has initiated a Colitis pre-clinical development program in collaboration with leading inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) researcher, Professor Gerhard Rogler, and the university of Zurich in Switzerland.
In 2015, Ben-Ya'acov et al. reported their work on Autoimmune Colitis using IMM-124E in mice.
The results, which were reported in the journal BMC Gastroenterology, showed the successful amelioration of disease on all histological parameter, decrease related weight loss and the immunological effect related to IMM-124E treatment.
After the successful completion of this initial stage, Immuron, together with Professor Rogler, developed a complete pre-clinical program to evaluate the efficacy of IMM-124E within a comprehensive set of animal models for the treatment of Colitis.
Professor Rogler is the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the University of Zurich and Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Zürich University Hospital.
His research interests focus on translational research to better understand unmet needs in the field of Irritable Bowel Disease. He is principal investigator of the Swiss IBD cohort study, a nationwide cohort project currently supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation. He has authored approximately 200 original peer-reviewed articles.
“We find the proposed mechanism of action of IMM-124E extremely interesting and with its unprecedented level of safety, we are eager to assess this unique compound. If this potential clinical treatment yields the results we are hoping for, this could potentially be a 'game changer' for many patients," said Professor Rogler.
The program will consist of 3 stages using well-established Acute and Chronic Colitis models to evaluate both the effect on animal-level as well as the intestinal mucosa. The study is scheduled to take place throughout 2016.
“Given our past success on Colitis models, we had plans for a comprehensive pre-clinical program in Colitis mapped out for some time," said Immuron’s CEO, Mr Thomas Liquard. "Prof. Rogler is one of the leading researchers in the field of Colitis and we are thrilled that he has decided to partner with us on this program. We will eagerly await the results of this study, which if positive, would provide our platform with yet another validation of its potency as a suppressor of gut inflammation.”