ALBA'S CELIAC DISEASE DRUG STUDY SHOWS POSITIVE RESULTS

Alba Therapeutics successfully completed Phase Ib proof-of-concept studies for its lead compound AT1001 for the treatment of celiac disease -- an autoimmune disease characterized by small intestinal inflammation, injury and intolerance to gluten.

In a 21-patient cohort of celiac disease sufferers, the oral administration of AT1001 induced a significantly positive result in the trial's primary target endpoint compared to placebo.

AT1001 is an antagonist to the zonulin system -- a signaling pathway that appears to be involved in many diseases in which leakage occurs via paracellular transport across epithelial and endothelial tight junctions, and thus may play an important potential role in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, the company said.