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- Immuron (IMC) has entered a research agreement with Monash University to analyse the IMM-124E drug and its relevance to SARS-CoV-2
- IMM-124E is the active pharmaceutical ingredient used to make Immuron’s over-the-counter gastrointestinal and digestive health products, Travelan and Protectyn
- These products work by relieving traveller’s diarrhoea and supporting digestive health, however, the IMM-124E drug has shown antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 — which is the virus that causes COVID-19
- While COVID-19 patients are known to have respiratory problems, symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting and cramping have also been observed
- The research team will be led by Monash’s Dr Melanie Hutton and Professor Dena Lyras
- Professor Lyras will obtain a SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and an antibody-positive human serum to research the inhibitory efficacy of Immuron’s drug
- Immuron is up 6.25 per cent and shares are trading at 25.5 cents
Immuron (IMC) has entered a research agreement with Monash University to evaluate the efficacy of IMM-124E and advance SARS-CoV-2 findings.
IMM-124E is the active pharmaceutical ingredient used to make Immuron’s over-the-counter gastrointestinal and digestive health immune supplements, Travelan and Protectyn.
Earlier this year, the biopharmaceutical company reported the IMM-124E drug neutralises activity against COVID-19. The drug underwent testing which showed antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 — which is the virus that causes COVID-19.
While COVID-19 patients are known to have respiratory problems, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and cramping have been observed in more and more patients who don’t show respiratory symptoms.
Immuron has since been engaging with research collaborators to further develop the antiviral activity of IMM-124E and further characterise the neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2.
The research team will be led by Dr Melanie Hutton and Professor Dena Lyras, who is the Deputy Director of the Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Deputy Head of the Department of Microbiology.
Professor Lyras will utilise two new recombinant reagents, being the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and an antibody-positive human serum sample taken from Melbourne’s Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.
“We have been very fortunate to obtain access to the SARS-CoV-2 recombinant proteins developed at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity,” Professor Lyras said.
“These reagents will be used to initiate the research work and to develop a suitable assay for evaluating the inhibitory efficacy of IMM-124E,” she added.
Immuron is up 6.25 per cent and shares are trading at 25.5 cents at 12:15 pm AEDT.
