Inimex Product Candidate Is First Immune Defense Regulator To Cure Infections Without Causing Harmful Inflammation

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 28 Mar 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s product candidate IDR-1 is the first immune system trigger to cure infections without causing harmful inflammation, according to a paper published in the April 2007 issue of Nature Biotechnology.

The paper, which highlights the work of Inimex and its co-founders Dr. Bob Hancock and Dr. Brett Finlay, shows that IDR-1 protected mice against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections. With as little as one dose, IDR-1 increased the levels of key immune system fighter cells, which caused prolonged enhancement of the host immune system's response to these antibiotic-resistant pathogens. A key finding was that the product eradicated the infections without increasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines that are typically present during the first stage of immunity.

"The body's immune system naturally possesses the tools to fight infections," said John North, president and chief executive officer of Inimex. "We're developing therapeutics that utilize this powerful innate response without the threat of a cytokine storm that can lead to sepsis."

Bob Hancock added: "The success of our product in controlling bacterial infection represents a novel approach at a time when antibiotic resistance is getting worse every day. With the decline of new antibiotic discovery, we desperately need new avenues of research for the treatment of super bugs."

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) cause infections that antibiotics can no longer treat and account for more than 90,000 deaths each year in North America alone. Inimex's goal is to develop IDR products as a new line of defense against pathogens that seek out residents of hospital and treatment centers whose immune systems are battered by age, disease or myelosuppressive medications.

The paper was published as Scott, M.G. et al. (2007) "An anti-infective peptide that selectively modulates the innate immune response" in Nature Biotechnology (April 2007, vol. 25 No. 4) and will be accessible online on March 25.

About Inimex Pharmaceuticals

Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc. is focused on the development and commercialization of Innate Defense Regulators (IDRs), novel first-in-class drugs that selectively trigger the body's innate defenses without causing inflammation. IDRs have major market potential for infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory disease. Inimex's investors include BDC Venture Capital, Canadian Medical Discovery Fund, Growthworks Capital, Discovery Capital and BC Advantage Fund. For more information, visit http://www.inimexpharma.com.

Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
http://www.inimexpharma.com