Immuron testing anti-influenza drug against swine flu

Immuron (ASX:IMC) has started testing its IMM-255 influenza candidate against the swine flu influenza strain in animal models.

The biopharmaceutical company expects to be able to provide results from studies using ferrets as an animal model by the end of the year.

Ferrets infected with the current Cal 7 influenza strain will be dosed with the IMM-255 candidate, in a trial building on previous animal studies using the Solomon Island H1N1 and the PR-8 flu strains.

Announcing the start of the trial, Immuron said it hopes the results will provide evidence supporting IMM-255's ability to prevent influenza and high safety profile.

IMM-255 is being developed as an over-the-counter product, with the dual effect of delivering anti-influenza antibodies while boosting the immune system to fight infection.

Immuron is developing the treatment candidate using the same platform used to create its debut product on the market, Travelan, an OTC preventative treatment for travellers' diarrhoea.

Like Travelan IMM-255 is derived from hyper-immune bovine colostrum. Bovine colostrum is the first milk from a cow after it has given birth, which is already naturally rich in antibodies. The cows have additionally been immunised with Immuron's proprietary vaccines.

The company is also developing a prospective treatment for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and fatty liver disease, and filed an IND application for the candidate with the US FDA in November last year.

Immuron (ASX:IMC) shares were trading unchanged at $0.018 as of around 2:30pm on Wednesday.