The share price of 4D Pharma (LSE: DDDD) — a pharmaceutical company that focuses on significant new therapeutic areas — is up 9.5% so far today, following publication of a research update.
The update concerns two of 4D Pharma’s products — Blautix, which is a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and Thetanix, which is for the treatment of Paediatric Crohn’s Disease (PCD). Both products are “live biotherapeutics”, which use live bacteria as the active agent, rather than either of the more traditional approaches of chemicals or biological agents, such as antibodies.
The company says that both Blautix and Thetanix are now anticipated to enter clinical studies in Q2 2015. The studies will primarily be concerned, 4D Pharma says, with evaluating the safety and tolerability of the two products.
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In addition, some clinical effects of Blautix would be assessed in both in healthy volunteers and a small number of symptomatic IBS individuals, whilst some clinical effects of Thetanix would be assessed in PCD patients.
Commenting on the update, Alex Stevenson, the company’s chief scientific officer, commented:
“The Blautix and Thetanix trials will represent important milestones for the Company and a new class of therapeutic, designed to treat the underlying causes of diseases rather than just the symptoms. In addition, 4D continues to generate a strong pipeline of live biotherapeutics for other important diseases, using its proprietary MicroRx platform.“
At 304p, 4D Pharma’s share price is currently up close to 70% since it listed on AIM in February of this year, since which time the AIM All-Share has fallen over 11%, and the FTSE All-Share has remained flat.
