Administration history Amp bAdministration of the highest dose of iCo-009 resulted in 99.8% inhibition of the parasite.
iCo-009 is an oral reformulation of Amphotericin B for sight and life threatening diseases. iCo-009 also represents a new drug delivery technology with the potential to reprofile other IV administered drugs to the oral route of administration.
June 25, 2009 - iCo Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V: ICO) is pleased to announce that iCo’s oral Amphotericin B (AmpB) oral formulation “iCo-009” has been published in a leading journal, The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The article represents the first ever publication of an oral AmpB eradicating the parasite responsible for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), which affects 12 million people worldwide. Administration of the highest dose of iCo-009 resulted in 99.8% inhibition of the parasite.
AmpB has for many years been the gold standard for systemic antifungal drugs. AmpB formulated for IV use remains one of the most effective agents in the treatment of systemic fungal infections, yet no oral formulations are currently commercially available. Over the past 50 years, many attempts have been made to formulate AmpB for oral administration, with limited success. The article indicates that with iCo-009, a self- administered, oral formulation of AmpB is attainable.
“This is the first peer-reviewed paper to be published demonstrating eradication of VL with an oral AmpB formulation”, stated Andrew Rae, iCo’s President & CEO. “We are excited to be on the forefront of global health by potentially increasing the quality of life in developing nations. In addition, iCo-009 may benefit immune compromised patients with cancer, organ transplant recipients, diabetics and HIV/AIDS in developed nations.”
About Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a parasite contracted by approximately 2 million people each year, with 12 million presently infected worldwide, predominantly in the developing world. If left untreated, Visceral Leishmaniasis can have a fatality rate of 100% within two years (World Health Organization).