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Nuvelo, at its May 31, 2007 annual shareholders meeting, announced
Phase 1 trials of its NU206 gastrointestinal growth factor product will
begin within the next few weeks. "NU206 (R-spondin1) is a
recombinant, secreted protein that acts as a highly specific stimulator
of the gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial cells as demonstrated in early
animal studies. Preclinical studies suggest it can promote growth and
repair of these tissues in animal models of radiation treatment or
chemotherapy for cancer, as well as in animal models of inflammatory
bowel disease and short bowel syndrome." A webcast of the annual
meeting with a slide presentation is available at Nuvelo's website
which contains a short discussion of NU206 near the end of the
meeting.
NU206 will initially be tested in patients undergoing radiation
treatment or chemotherapy for cancer. Trials in IBD patients will also
follow. In a study of experimental colitis in mice, R-spondin1
dramatically prevented mucosal damage and restored mucosal
integrity in IL-10–deficient mice with drug induced colitis (a model for
IBD.) Slide Number 23 of the meeting presentation shows a healthy
villus and crypt mucosal structure in mice treated with NU206
compared to severe mucosal damage in untreated mice. The
implications for repairing and preventing mucosal damage in celiac
disease is obvious. Rapid mucosal repair in celiacs by using NU206
therapy would quickly alleviate the persistant problems caused by
increased intestinal permeability as well as restoring other normal
mucosal functions.
< http://www.nuvelo.com/ >
< http://www.nuvelo.com/products/NU206/ >
Gastroenterology. 2007 April; 132(4) pgs 1331-1343
R-spondin1, A Novel Intestinotrophic Mitogen, Ameliorates
Experimental Colitis in Mice
Zhao J, De Vera J, Narushima S, Beck EX, Palencia S, Shinkawa P, Kim
KA, Liu Y, Levy M, Berg DJ, Abo A, Funk WD
http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/PIIS0016508507003484/abstract
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