Pic via Getty Images
Health & Biotech
Microba Life Sciences (ASX:MAP) has announced the successful completion of its autoimmune disease therapeutic discovery program in collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA).
The goal of the program is to find and create new treatments for autoimmune diseases using advanced methods to pinpoint bacteria that can effectively treat different autoimmune disorders.
The groundbreaking initiative was completed on schedule and within budget, with primary and secondary activity screening data received for all lead bacterial strains.
From the comprehensive dataset generated, the program identified six strains exhibiting compelling disease-relevant activity, a significant achievement in microbiome-based therapies.
The program began in mid 2022 when Microba and Ginkgo Bioworks embarked on a therapeutic program aimed at discovering new treatments for autoimmune diseases like lupus, psoriatic arthritis, and autoimmune liver diseases.
In Stage 1 of the project, Microba utilised its data-driven drug discovery platform to screen 1,821 bacterial strains across various primary in vitro assays aimed at identifying disease-relevant biological activity.
Results showed that 80% of these strains exhibited activity in at least one primary assay, with 62% demonstrating significant immunomodulatory (ability to regulate immune system’s response) effects, and 18% showing significant inflammasome (proteins that cause inflammation) activity.
Moving to Stage 2, 36 strains were selected for further functional screening in human cells relevant to autoimmune diseases, including gut epithelial cells, liver fibroblasts, synovial tissue, and primary immune cells targeting specific disease pathways.
The scientists analysed how these strains work using advanced methods like transcriptomic analysis (the study of all the RNA molecules) and metabolomic analysis of strain secretions.
This thorough approach finally helped identify 6 strains that showed strong activity against different autoimmune disorders.
Professor Trent Munro, SVP Therapeutics at Microba, emphasised on the pioneering nature of the project, which explored novel microbes sourced from the human gut microbiome.
“Microba is at the forefront of developing precision microbiome therapeutics, enabled by machine learning and artificial intelligence, that have the potential to help patients in need across a number of disease indications,” Munro said.
Autoimmune diseases are a family of more than 80 chronic and often life-threatening illnesses, which occur when the body’s own immune system attacks the body’s healthy cells, tissues and organs.
Autoimmune conditions now impact around 5% of the population and their prevalence is rising.
There is a growing body of evidence that the gut microbiome plays a central role in the maintenance of health and the development of this chronic disease.
“Autoimmune diseases represent a significant unmet need, and the identification of potential live biotherapeutics is an exciting development in the creation of new modalities to improve the lives of these patients,” said Munro.
Recce Pharmaceuticals (ASX:RCE) has reported encouraging results from its Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating RECCE 327 (R327) for treating urinary tract infections (UTIs) and urosepsis.
The trial, involving 25 participants, tested R327 at doses up to 4,000mg administered intravenously over various infusion times.
Key findings include:
The highest tested dose of 4,000mg of R327 demonstrated efficacy in reducing bacterial growth, specifically targeting Escherichia coli (E. coli).
No serious adverse events were reported, and there were no clinically significant changes in laboratory results, underscoring the safety profile of R327.
The study concluded successfully, establishing an optimal dosing regimen with a 20-minute infusion period proving most effective. This regimen showed rapid onset and sustained impact on E. coli through an ATP mechanism in participants’ urine.
Recce is now preparing to advance to a Phase II trial for UTIs, slated to commence in the second half of 2024.
The company said these findings mark a significant step forward in its development of synthetic anti-infectives, highlighting R327’s potential as a novel treatment for serious bacterial infections like UTIs and urosepsis.
Imricor Medical Systems (ASX:IMR) has successfully completed its second iCMR-guided atrial flutter ablation procedure at the Dubrava University Hospital in Zagreb, Croatia.
This follows the hospital’s recent commencement of these procedures last week, marking a rapid integration of Imricor’s innovative technology.
Dubrava University Hospital, known for its high-volume atrial flutter treatments, has already scheduled more patients for upcoming weeks, which shows the growing interest and adoption of Imricor’s iCMR-guided ablations at the site.
To support this increasing demand, Dubrava has placed an order for ten additional Vision-MR Ablation Catheter kits.
Steve Wedan, Chair and CEO of Imricor, explained the company’s strategic goals of expanding its market presence and ensuring steady procedure volumes at each activated site.
“Our sales goals this year are focused on activating more sites each quarter, and ensuring consistent procedure volume at each active site. This is how we start to establish a new standard of care.”
Wedan adds that the activation process involves several steps, starting with the purchase and installation of our iCMR EP lab equipment, which generates capital revenue for Imricor.
“As consistent procedures follow, so does Imricor’s recurring consumable revenue, which is now building momentum across the business in line with our stated objective in Q1.
“Today is the latest example of our sales team fulfilling their goals and successfully launching our groundbreaking technology across Europe,” Wedan said.
At Stockhead we tell it like it is. While Imricor Medical Systems is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.
Health & Biotech
Health & Biotech
Health & Biotech
