Immuron Limited’s (ASX:IMC) (NASDAQ:IMRN) IMM-124E has demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, a major factor in liver inflammation.
The company’s shares were last trading circa 54% higher intra-day, at $0.44.
A total of 133 non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients were enrolled into Immuron’s phase II NASH clinical study and were treated with either IMM-124E or placebo for 6 months.
Results demonstrate a statistically significant reduction of serum LPS levels
64.29% of patients treated with IMM-124E demonstrated a 15% or greater decrease in serum LPS levels compared with only 34.48% of patients showing a decrease for the placebo group, reaching statistical significance.
Importantly, no safety concerns or serious adverse events were associated with the study drug.
The 600mg and 1200mg doses were well tolerated and support the use of even higher doses and extended treatment periods in future clinical trials.
Wider scope across a broad range of diseases
Immuron’s study results offer evidence of a therapeutic mechanism of action and a clear direction for further NASH studies.
The growing literature implicating LPS in many diseases offers the potential for a much wider scope for LPS antagonism as a treatment modality.
With IMM-124E being the world’s first-in class oral LPS antagonist, the company has substantial opportunities across a broad range of diseases.
READ: Immuron achieves strong sales growth for travellers’ diarrhoea product
The company’s flag-ship product Travelan® achieved a revenue in excess of $914,000 for the first six months of FY2018, experiencing strong sales growth in both the U.S. and Australia.
Travelan is a natural product, specifically designed to reduce the risk of infection by E.coli, the most common cause of travellers’ diarrhoea or Bali Belly.