CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ImmusanT, Inc., a clinical-stage company developing Nexvax2®, a therapeutic vaccine being investigated to protect against the effects of gluten in HLA-DQ2.5+ patients with celiac disease, today announced data from a study evaluating cytokine levels following gluten ingestion in celiac disease (CeD) and non-celiac gluten sensitive (NCGS) patients has been accepted as a “late breaker” at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week.

Knut E.A. Lundin, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Oslo, will present the data. The presentation will follow two oral presentations the company previously announced.

Details of the “late breaker” presentation:

Date: Tuesday, October 31
Time: 14:36-14:48 CET
Location: Room A3
Session: Late breaking clinical trials in gastroenterology
Abstract Number: LB18
Title: Increase in plasma interleukin(IL)-2, IL-8, and IL-10 from 2 to 6 hours on oral gluten challenge differentiates between celiac disease (CeD) and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) in patients on gluten-free diet (GFD)

Details of the oral presentations:

Date: Monday, October 30
Time: 14:12-14:24 CET
Location: Room B2
Session: Celiac disease and wheat-related disorder
Abstract Number: OP060
Title: Gluten ingestion and intradermal injection of peptides that activate gluten-specific CD4+ T cells elicit a cytokine signature dominated by interleukin-2 in celiac disease

Date: Monday, October 30
Time: 16:57-17:09 CET
Location: Room E2
Session: Gluten-related disorders
Abstract Number: OP118
Title: Safety and tolerability, immunological and intestinal effects, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of dose titration preceding maintenance doses of Nexvax2® in HLA-DQ2.5+ celiac disease (CeD)

About Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a T cell-mediated autoimmune gastrointestinal disease triggered by the ingestion of gluten from wheat, rye and barley predominantly in individuals who carry the human leukocyte antigen-DQ2.5 (HLA-DQ2.5) immune recognition gene. A gluten-free diet is the only current management for this disease. The global prevalence of celiac disease is approximately 1%, but over 80% of cases go unrecognized. When a person with celiac disease consumes gluten, the individual’s immune system responds by triggering T cells to fight the offending proteins, damaging the small intestine and inhibiting the absorption of important nutrients into the body. Undiagnosed, celiac disease is a major contributor to poor educational performance and failure to thrive in children. Untreated disease in adults is associated with osteoporosis and increased risk of fractures, anemia, reduced fertility, problems during pregnancy and birth, short stature, dental enamel hypoplasia, dermatitis, recurrent stomatitis and cancer. With no available drug therapy, the only option is a strict and lifelong elimination of gluten from the diet. Compliance is often challenging, and the majority of people continue to have residual damage to their small intestine in spite of adherence to a gluten-free diet.

About Nexvax2®
Nexvax2® is the only therapeutic approach for celiac disease in clinical development today that targets the fundamental cause of the disease, that is the loss of immune tolerance to gluten. Nexvax2® is a combination of three proprietary peptides that is delivered by injection as a therapeutic vaccine and reprograms the T-cells that respond to gluten antigens in celiac disease patients so that they stop triggering a pro-inflammatory response. By increasing the threshold for clinical reactivity to natural exposure to gluten, Nexvax2® is intended to protect patients with celiac disease against inadvertent exposure to gluten and ultimately restore immunological and clinical tolerance to gluten.

About ImmusanT, Inc.
ImmusanT is a privately held biotechnology company focused on protecting patients with celiac disease against the effects of gluten. By harnessing new discoveries in immunology, ImmusanT aims to improve diagnosis and medical management of celiac disease by protecting against the effects of gluten exposure while patients maintain a gluten-free diet. The company is developing Nexvax2^®, a therapeutic vaccine for celiac disease, and diagnostic and monitoring tools to improve celiac disease management. ImmusanT’s targeted immunotherapy discovery platform can be applied to a variety of autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2010, ImmusanT is backed by Vatera Healthcare Partners. More information may be found at www.ImmusanT.com, or follow ImmusanT on Twitter.

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