IMULAN Reports Positive Findings For Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Main Category: Veterans / Ex-Servicemen
Also Included In: Heart Disease;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 14 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Imulan BioTherapeutics, LLC (IMULAN) announced encouraging echocardiographic findings from a recent pilot trial using their T-Cell Receptor (TCR) peptides for canine dilated cardiomyopathy. The study was supported by a grant from the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation and conducted by veterinary cardiologists in dogs with stable but confirmed dilated cardiomyopathy. Previous work in mice and turkeys demonstrated IMULAN's TCR peptides have profound effects on infectious and drug-induced cardiomyopathy, and appear to induce remodeling of cardiac tissue by modulating the immune system. Larger studies are being designed to further investigate these findings.

Dr. Daniel Gingerich, CSO of IMULAN stated, "For the first time, we may have documented the clinical relevance of the link between immune modulation and therapeutic intervention in canine cardiomyopathy. Our findings suggest an improvement in cardiac function after immunization with our peptides, an effect that has been observed with other species. Although preliminary findings are encouraging, more work will be needed to confirm our findings and elucidate the optimal approach to this devastating disease."

Dr. Craig Woods, CEO of IMULAN went on to state, "There is growing evidence that certain cardiac diseases are accompanied by changes in lymphocyte populations. Lymphocytes, which produce a variety of cell signals, may directly influence cardiac fibroblasts and thereby affect cardiac compensation. We are hopeful that this research will lead to major cardiovascular breakthroughs within the next few years."

Dr. Christine Haakenson, Director of Research Program Development, AKC Canine Health Foundation stated, "I look forward to following the development of this research into a treatment that will improve the life of dogs inflicted with dilated cardiomyopathy."

About the TCR peptides

T-Cell Receptor Peptide Vaccines are immune modulating biologics designed to regulate T-helper cell activity, including restoring immune function in aged animals and normalizing Th1/Th2 cytokine signaling profiles. The TCR peptide platform is being developed for cardiovascular, infectious disease, and immune mediated diseases. Recently, evidence is implicating the immune system as playing a role in cardiomyopathy which could lead to a new class of compounds to treat this disease.

Source
IMULAN

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