Treatment of autoimmune gastritis

Challenge

Autoimmune gastrits (AIG) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the stomach occurring in up to 8% of the general population.

It is a chronic inflammatory disease with destruction of parietal cells of the corpus and fundus of the stomach. The known consequence is vitamin B12 deficiency and, consequently, pernicious anemia. However, loss of parietal cells reduces secretion of gastric acid which is also required for absorption of inorganic iron; thus, iron deficiency is commonly found in patients with autoimmune gastritis. This usually precedes vitamin B12 deficiency and is found mainly in young women.

Despite symptomatic treatment of AIG based on iron infusions, vitamin B12 injections and endoscopic surveillance, there is no curative treatment for autoimmune gastritis at this moment. 

Technology

The present invention provides a novel, efficient and locally effective treatment for autoimmune gastrits (AIG) using drug delivery system for  gastroretentive release the glucocorticoids in a timely and locally controlled manner.

Advantages are

• improving activity span for short half-life drugs
• increased contact time for the drug
• increased bioavailability of drugs
• reduction of the number of dosages per period of time
• minimization or elimination of local and/or systemic side effects
• minimization of drug accumulation associated with chronic dosing
• improved efficiency and safety of treatment
• reduced fluctuation of drug level

and better patient compliance with overall disease management.

Commercial Opportunity

Cooperation, License agreement, patent sale

Development Status

Clinical Phase II trial: evaluation of the response rate / efficacy to various doses of substance administered, to demonstrate clinical proof of concept

Patent Situation

EP Priority 18182910 July/18

Further Reading

Further reading*: Autoimmune Gastrits Wien Med Wochenschr. 2016 Oct;166(13-14):424-430. Epub 2016 Sep 26 (DOI 10.1007/s10354-016-0515-5)