AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 17, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XBiotech Inc. (NASDAQ:XBIT), developer of True Human™ therapeutic antibodies, announced today commencement of a collaboration with a research team at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine headed by leading gastroenterologist, Fabio Cominelli, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Cominelli and his research team will conduct pre-clinical studies to help develop new treatments for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) using the company’s pioneering approach to using natural human antibody therapy to neutralize harmful inflammation. Dr. Cominelli is a world-leading expert in inflammatory bowel disease. His group was the first to report that specific blockade of interleukin-1 (IL-1) was effective in reducing disease severity in colitis and that deregulated inflammation is a cause of auto-inflammatory diseases, including IBD.
Dr. Cominelli is Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease and Director of the Digestive Health Institute at CWRU School of Medicine in Cleveland and Chief Scientific Officer of the Digestive Health Institute at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Dr. Cominelli is also the Hermann Menges Jr. Chair in Internal Medicine and Professor at CWRU School of Medicine. Dr. Cominelli has a professional interest in Crohn’s disease, gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, IBD and ulcerative colitis. He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and Association of American Physicians. He has previously earned a NIH Merit Award. His work has been published in a number of peer-reviewed journals, such as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and The Journal of Immunology. Dr. Cominelli earned his medical degree at Universita’ Degli Studi di Firenze in Florence, Italy, where he also completed his internal medicine residency. He completed his gastroenterology fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California.
Dr. Cominelli stated, “I have researched IL-1’s role in disease severity in colitis for many years, and am excited about the opportunity to be able to selectively inhibit IL-1 alpha to better define its role in IBD. These results will help shape the design of future clinical trials as we look for new and better treatments for this wide-spread condition.”
John Simard, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Dr. Cominelli’s past research has formed the foundation for clinical trials with important implications for new treatments for patients suffering from inflammatory diseases of the bowl. We are hopeful that this collaboration will provide for further advances in treatment.”
About Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common condition involving chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. IBD primarily includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, both of which are typically associated with severe diarrhea, pain, fatigue and weight loss. IBD can have a devastating impact on quality of life and in some cases lead to life-threatening complications. There are approximately 1.6 million Americans and 5 million people worldwide suffering from IBD with as many as 70,000 new cases diagnosed yearly in the U.S1.
About True Human™ Therapeutic Antibodies
Unlike previous generations of antibody therapies, XBiotech’s True Human™ antibodies are derived without modification from individuals who possess natural immunity to certain diseases. With discovery and clinical programs across multiple disease areas, XBiotech’s True Human antibodies have the potential to harness the body’s natural immunity to fight disease with increased safety, efficacy and tolerability.
About XBiotech
XBiotech is a fully integrated global biosciences company dedicated to pioneering the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic antibodies based on its True Human™ proprietary technology. XBiotech currently is advancing a robust pipeline of antibody therapies to redefine the standards of care in oncology, inflammatory conditions and infectious diseases. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, XBiotech also is leading the development of innovative biotech manufacturing technologies designed to more rapidly, cost-effectively and flexibly produce new therapies urgently needed by patients worldwide. For more information, visit www.xbiotech.com.
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1 The Facts About Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. November 2014.
CONTACT: Contact Ashley Otero aotero@xbiotech.com 512-386-2930
