VANCOUVER, Canada— iCo Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V: ICO) is pleased to announce a series of positive experiments investigating the systemic bioavailability of amphotericin B following oral administration. iCo-009 is iCo’s oral formulation of Amphotericin B, a broad spectrum antifungal drug which currently can only be delivered by intravenous (IV) infusion. Results indicate that oral administration of iCo-009 results in blood levels that are comparable to a known IV Amphotericin B product currently on the market.
In both aspergillus fumigatus and candida albicans rat models, iCo-009 has shown significant antifungal activity with no observable kidney toxicity as assessed by serum creatinine concentrations. Preclinical studies profiling the tissue distribution of iCo-009 in the kidney, liver, spleen, lung, brain and heart are currently underway.
“These studies are encouraging as they help us gain further understanding of the potential of iCo-009 and the underlying drug delivery technology,” stated Andrew Rae, iCo’s President & CEO. “To show comparable blood levels to existing commercial versions of Amphotericin B, which are administered via IV infusion, is exciting to us as there is a clear commercial and medical need for an oral antifungal with the strength and breadth of action of Amphotericin.”
iCo-009 was developed by Drs. Kishor & Ellen Wasan at the University of British Columbia. iCo Therapeutics acquired the worldwide exclusive rights to iCo-009 from UBC in May 2008.
About iCo Therapeutics Inc.
iCo Therapeutics Inc. is a Vancouver-based development based company focused on in-licensing drugs with clinical history redosing or reformulating for new or expanded indications. iCo has exclusive worldwide rights to three products. iCo-007, a second generation antisense candidate licensed from Isis Pharmaceuticals, is currently in a Phase I trial in Diabetic Macular Edema patients with compelling early data. iCo-008 is a human monoclonal antibody targeting eotaxin-1 with Phase II clinical history, licensed from AstraZeneca/MedImmune. iCo-009 is a proprietary oral formulation of amphotericin B licensed from the University of British Columbia. To date, iCo has reported positive preclinical results for iCo-009. iCo Therapeutics trades on the TSX-Venture exchange under the symbol “ICO”. For more information, visit the company website at: https://icotherapeutics.com
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