Immuron Limited (ASX:IMC) has received a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a method to treat Clostridium difficile (CD) infections.
Entitled ‘Methods and compositions for the treatment and prophylaxis of Clostridium difficile associated disease’, the patent describes a targeted drug composition including an enriched, hyperimmune polyclonal antibody preparation of bovine colostrum for use in treating CD, a bacteria that causes life threatening diarrhea.
The company’s drug candidate IMM-529 is in a phase 1/2a clinical trial in CD patients.
Problem is prevalent in “hospitals long-term in-patient care facilities”
Immuron chief executive officer Gary S Jacob said: “The claims of this new US patent provide broad coverage of the application of our proprietary technology to the treatment of CD infection.
“CDI remains a major medical problem causing an estimated annual economic burden of more than US$10 billion globally.
“The problem is especially acute in hospitals and in long-term in-patient care facilities and moreover the problem is compounded by the high rate of recurrence in patients treated with front line antibiotics.
“Immuron’s drug candidate IMM-529 is not antibiotic, it is comprised of a hyperimmune polyclonal antibody colostrum agent that is capable of binding and inactivating not only the CD toxin B but also spore antigens and vegetative cell antigens.”
Australian site identification process complete
The company’s phase 1/2a clinical trial of IMM-529 in patients with CD, which is being conducted in two clinics in Israel, has not met the anticipated patient enrolment.
Immuron has addressed the issue by making changes to the enrolment protocol.
A feasibility and Australian site identification process is now complete, and the company expects to have Australian clinical sites open for recruitment of patients shortly.