Immuron Limited announced that the US Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC) has initiated the clinical evaluation of a new oral therapeutic targeting Campylobacter and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) developed in collaboration with Immuron. The NMRC has prioritized the clinical development of the study to evaluate the efficacy of the new therapeutic product to prevent infectious diarrhea caused by Campylobacter. The clinical study is being led by Principal Investigator Dr Kawsar Talaat, MD at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Center for Immunization Research (CIR) Inpatient Unit, located at the JHU Bayview Medical Campus, Baltimore, Maryland.

U.S. The Phase 2 clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety and protective efficacy of the new product compared to a placebo in a controlled human infection model (CHIM). The primary efficacy outcome is prevention and/or reduction of moderate to severe diarrhea. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06122870.

The dosing, challenge and the in-patient stage of the study is anticipated to be completed by the third week of December 2023. The estimated study completion date (last participant, last visit) is June 2024 with headline results from the clinical trial expected to be reported in 2H 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 demonstrated 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 (IBS) and several post-infectious autoimmune diseases. A preventative treatment that defends against infectious enteric diseases is a high priority objective for the US Military.