Campylobacter Infections

MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immuron Limited (ASX: IMC; NASDAQ: IMRN), is an Australian based and globally integrated biopharmaceutical company that has developed two commercially available oral immunotherapeutic products for the treatment of gut mediated diseases. Following discussion with the US Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC), today the Company can announce that the NMRC has completed the interim analysis for the clinical evaluation of a new oral therapeutic targeting Campylobacter and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). The results of this clinical trial are unrelated to Travelan® and do not impact Immuron’s plans to hold an end of Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with a view to initiating Phase 3 clinical trial(s) of Travelan® in 2H 2025. Nor does this NMRC trial impact on Immuron’s commercialization strategy for Travelan®. This commercialization strategy also includes the results of the Uniformed Services University clinical study (n=866) of Travelan® which is 85% recruited with topline results anticipated in April 2025 (NCT04605783). The details of the trial are available at clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06122870 . The trial was funded by the NMRC. Immuron’s involvement in the study was to produce a hyperimmune bovine colostrum product using the NMRC developed campylobacter/ETEC vaccine which was tested in a controlled human infection model study. Campylobacter jejuni is among the most common causes of diarrheal disease worldwide. Relatively little is known regarding what constitutes protective immunity against Campylobacter and there is currently no licensed vaccine to prevent disease caused by C. jejuni. C. jejuni is considered an invasive enteric pathogen, but the molecular details of its pathogenesis remain difficult to interpret or understand largely due to the lack of reliable, non-primate animal models of disease. To address this unmet medical need, the NMRC developed a conjugated vaccine using the Campylobacter jejuni capsule crosslinked to the colonization factor antigen 1 (CFA/1) of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). These key antigenic targets are predicted to be protective against diarrhea induced by both pathogens. Immuron used the conjugated vaccine to produce a new hyperimmune anti-microbial for clinical evaluation by the NMRC. The NMRC confirmed that the conjugated vaccine produced a robust immunological response in cows and reported that the new Hyper-immune therapeutic contains high levels of antibodies which specifically target Campylobacter jejuni capsule and CFA/1 (ASX Announcement 9 November 2020). Immuron has been advised by NMRC that the safety and protective efficacy of the product was tested in a controlled human infection-model clinical trial focusing on the ability of the hyperimmune product to protect volunteers against moderate to severe campylobacteriosis. A total of 27 volunteers were enrolled in the randomized, placebo-controlled trial and randomly assigned to either the active or placebo arm of the study. The interim results demonstrated 10.4% protective efficacy against moderate to severe campylobacteriosis following challenge with Campylobacter compared to the placebo group. Data analysis by the NRMC continues, including secondary and exploratory endpoints, which may provide insights as to why protective efficacy for CampETEC for was lower than that achieved in similar studies with Travelan®. Immuron is not privy to any further details of the study at this time, pending the presentation of findings described below. Dr Frédéric Poly, the principal Investigator of the study, will present the findings for the NMRC CampETEC clinical study at the 22nd International Workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter & Related Organisms (CHRO 2024) which commences on 7 October 2024 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. A copy of the presentation will be made available on the Company website once it is made available to the Company. Travelan® demonstrated clinical efficacy in preventing ETEC-attributable diarrhea in two previous CHIM studies. These studies showed dosing 400 mg three times daily, resulted in 76.7% to 90.9% protection (Otto et al., 2011) and more recently 36.4% protective efficacy in a single daily dose Phase 2 study designed to compare the preventative effects of once daily dosing to the current standard recommended treatment of three times daily dosing (ASX Announcement 7 March 2024). This Phase 2 single dose trial also produced clinically relevant secondary endpoints (ASX Announcement 8 August 2024). The vaccine used in CampETEC was a conjugated vaccine for both campylobacter and ETEC. The NMRC recently received U.S. Department of Defense funding to develop a new campylobacter vaccine not conjugated with ETEC as well as new vaccines for shigella and different strains of E.coli. The plan is to develop new hyperimmune products which specifically target each of these pathogens in collaboration with Immuron. NRMC and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) are now developing an enhanced formulation of Travelan potentially expanding the coverage of the product as a therapeutic measure against endemic military relevant diarrheal pathogens (ASX announcement 16 August 2024). Infectious diarrhea is the most common illness reported by travelers visiting developing countries and among US troops deployed overseas. The morbidity and associated discomfort stemming from diarrhea decreases daily performance, affects judgment, decreases morale and declines operational readiness. The first line of treatment for infectious diarrhea is the prescription of antibiotics. Unfortunately, in the last decade, several enteric pathogens have had an increasing resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics. In addition, traveler’s diarrhea is now recognized by the medical community to result in post-infectious sequelae, including post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome and several post-infectious autoimmune diseases. A preventative treatment that protects against enteric diseases is a high priority objective for the US Military. This release has been authorized by the directors of Immuron Limited. COMPANY CONTACT: Steven LydeamoreChief Executive OfficerPh: +61 (0)3 9824 5254steve@immuron.com About Travelan® Travelan® is an orally administered passive immunotherapy that prophylactically reduces the likelihood of contracting traveler’s diarrhea, a digestive tract disorder that is commonly caused by pathogenic bacteria and the toxins they produce. Travelan® is a highly purified tableted preparation of hyperimmune bovine antibodies and other factors, which when taken with meals bind to diarrhea-causing bacteria and prevent colonization and the pathology associated with traveler’s 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 Traveler’s Diarrhea, reduce the risk of minor gastrointestinal disorders and is antimicrobial. In Canada, Travelan® is a licensed natural health product (NPN 80046016) and is indicated to reduce the risk of Traveler’s Diarrhea. In the U.S., Travelan® is sold as a dietary supplement for digestive tract protection. About Traveler’s Diarrhea Traveler’s Diarrhea is a gastrointestinal infection with symptoms that include loose, watery (and occasionally bloody) stools, abdominal cramping, bloating, and fever, Enteropathogenic 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 Traveler’s Diarrhea as they may be contracted while travelling and initial symptoms are often indistinguishable. About ImmuronImmuron Limited (ASX: IMC, NASDAQ: IMRN), is an Australian biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing orally delivered targeted polyclonal antibodies for the treatment of infectious diseases. For more information visit: http://www.immuron.com 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.

MONDAY, July 8, 2024 -- During 2023, there were increases in the incidences of certain foodborne disease, which may reflect changes in diagnostic practices, according to research published in the July 4 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report . Hazel J. Shah, M.P.H., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues summarized preliminary 2023 Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) data, and discussed efforts to increase FoodNet representativeness. The researchers observed increases in the incidences of domestically acquired campylobacteriosis, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection, yersiniosis, vibriosis, and cyclosporiasis during 2023 compared with 2016 to 2018, while the incidences of listeriosis, salmonellosis, and shigellosis remained stable. The incidence and percentage of infections diagnosed by culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs) reported to FoodNet continued to increase during 2023, and there was a decrease seen in the percentage of cases yielding an isolate, affecting observed incidence trends. Since CIDTs allow for diagnosis of infections that would previously have gone undetected, increasing numbers of infections may reflect changing diagnostic practices. "Continued surveillance is needed to monitor the impact of changing diagnostic practices on disease trends and evaluate the efficacy of prevention efforts in reducing incidence," the authors write. Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Phase Genomics, Inc., a leading innovator at the forefront of genomics technology development, today announced $1.5MM in new funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fuel a new antimicrobial discovery platform. Leveraging the power of lysins, phage-derived proteins that selectively kill specific bacteria and archaea, the program aims to address two immediate threats that will shape the next century: a growing global antibiotic resistance crisis and the challenge of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The foundation of this effort rests on Phase Genomics’ proprietary global phage atlas, developed with support from the Gates Foundation and the NIH. Under this project, Phase Genomics will deploy its platform to develop antimicrobial agents that bypass resistance against Campylobacter infections and methanogenic archaea in ruminants that drive global methane emissions. “Our work at the frontier of microbiome research has unlocked a wealth of new insights on phages, the viruses that infect bacteria. Now, with support from the Gates Foundation, we’re harnessing our global phage database with the goal of improving human and environmental health and providing a critical alternative to traditional antibiotics,” said Ivan Liachko, PhD, founder and CEO of Phase Genomics. “The need for breakthrough therapeutics to combat the growing AMR crisis is urgent. We’ve built the right technology to identify and engineer lysin candidates primed to combat microbes both in environmental settings as well as emerging AMR biothreats and help overcome the industry-wide inertia facing novel antibiotic development.” Derived from bacteriophage (or simply, phage) genomes, lysins are highly specific lytic proteins that kill bacteria by dismantling the cell wall structure, sparing off-target healthy microbes that are often collateral damage in traditional, systemic antibiotic treatment. Lysin-based antibiotics are well-suited for rapid, scalable biomanufacturing and deployment. Targeted bacteria are also much less likely to develop resistance to lysins than both traditional antibiotics and intact phages, providing a sustainable and durable framework to counter the accelerating antibiotic resistance threat. The new platform will build on data from Phase Genomics’ bacteriophage discovery engine which holds one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive collections of phage-microbe interactions containing hundreds of thousands of new host-resolved phage genomes. This continuously-growing phage interactome atlas is primed for the rapid discovery of wide-ranging classes of antimicrobial lysins derived from phages. The platform is superior to other approaches in both scale and accuracy, simultaneously resolving both microbial targets and the phages that infect them, with each pair containing a potential target-specific lysin candidate. Phase Genomics’ ProxiMeta™-powered phage atlas forms a deep well of target bacterial pathogens and new candidate biologics to tackle emerging drug-resistant pathogens and environmental biothreats. This year-long project also marks a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Phase Genomics and Seattle-based Lumen Bioscience, who will assess lysin bioactivity in their robust and scalable microbial expression system. Follow Phase Genomics on X and LinkedIn for the latest news and information. About Phase Genomics Phase Genomics applies proprietary proximity ligation technology to enable chromosome-scale genome assembly, microbiome discovery, as well as analysis of genomic variation and genome architecture. In addition to a comprehensive portfolio of laboratory and computational services and products, including kits for plants, animals, microbes, and human samples, they also offer an industry-leading genome and metagenome assembly and analysis software. Based in Seattle, WA, the company was founded in 2015 by a team of genome scientists, software engineers, and entrepreneurs. The company’s mission is to empower scientists with genomic tools that accelerate breakthrough discoveries.