TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Antibe Therapeutics Inc. ("Antibe" or the “Company”) (TSXV:ATE, OTCQB:ATBPF) is pleased to announce that a team of researchers at the University of Calgary has identified a key mechanism underlying the ability of certain intestinal bacteria to contribute to the ulceration and inflammation that is characteristic of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (the two forms of IBD). Moreover, they have demonstrated that novel hydrogen sulfide-releasing drugs can reverse these effects, leading to resolution of the inflammation and healing of intestinal ulcers. The research was directed by two of Antibe’s founders, Drs. Andre Buret and John Wallace.
Dr. Buret explained that “intestinal bacteria that cause damage and bleeding in patients with IBD are described as “virulent” (harmful, destructive), and this virulence is dependent upon the availability of iron to the bacteria within the intestine. Depriving bacteria of access to iron markedly reduces virulence, resulting in a dramatic reduction of the severity of colitis.”
The Calgary research team demonstrated that novel hydrogen sulfide-releasing drugs (ATB-428 and ATB-429) were capable of scavenging iron within the intestines, depriving bacteria of access to that iron, and thereby markedly reducing bacterial virulence. Dr. Wallace commented that “the hydrogen sulfide-releasing drugs did not cause dramatic changes to the types of bacteria that reside in the intestine; rather, the treatment rendered the intestinal bacteria much less toxic to the intestinal tissues.” Studies were performed both in rats in which colitis had been induced, and using tissues obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Dr. Wallace added, “previous studies performed in our laboratories have documented the profound beneficial effects of our hydrogen sulfide-releasing drugs in protecting intestinal cells from damage and promoting healing.”
This research was supported by grants to Drs. Buret and Wallace from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Crohn’s Colitis Canada and the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The research article was published in the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases journal and is available online at: http://www.antibethera.com/news-media/scientific-publications/
About Antibe Therapeutics Inc.
Antibe develops safer medicines for pain and inflammation. Antibe’s technology involves linking a hydrogen sulfide-releasing molecule to an existing drug to produce a patented, improved medicine. Antibe’s lead drug ATB-346 targets the global need for a safer, non-addictive drug for chronic pain and inflammation. ATB-352, the second drug in Antibe’s pipeline, targets the urgent global need for a non-addictive analgesic for treating severe acute pain, while ATB-340 is a GI-safe derivative of aspirin. www.antibethera.com.
Antibe’s subsidiary, Citagenix Inc. (“Citagenix”), is a leader in the sales and marketing of tissue regenerative products servicing the orthopedic and dental marketplaces. Since its inception in 1997, Citagenix has become an important source of knowledge and experience for bone regeneration in the Canadian medical device industry. Citagenix is active in 15 countries, operating in Canada through its direct sales teams, and internationally via a network of distributor partnerships. www.citagenix.com.
Forward Looking Information
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements, which may include, but are not limited to, the proposed licensing and development of drugs and medical devices. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking, including those identified by the expressions "will", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "propose" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this news release. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company’s inability to secure additional financing and licensing arrangements on reasonable terms, or at all, its inability to execute its business strategy and successfully compete in the market, and risks associated with drug and medical device development generally. Antibe Therapeutics Inc. assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.
