Research On Other Cures For Celiac

[Guest gliX]

I'm curious what the latest on this topic is. If anyone has any very recent information about studies or findings delving into possible alternative cures for celiac disease, post it here, including the time frames.

[happygirl]

What do you mean by "other cures" for Celiac? i.e, anything other than the current gluten free diet?

just trying to clarify.

there are three areas that I am aware of.

1. influence of zonulin, which closes the tight junctions (in Celiacs, the tight junctions are believed to be more open, and gluten passes through barrier cells, and then the autoimmune reaction occurs).(Dr. Fasano at University of Maryland and Alba Therapeutics www.albatherapeutics.com and) You can do a search on celiac.com for "zonulin"

this is from alba's website:

Alba Therapeutics Presents Data from Positive Phase Ib Clinical Trial at the XII International Celiac Disease Symposium"

New York, November 10, 2006 - Data presented on November 11th at the XII International Celiac Disease Symposium in New York City show that when AT-1001, an investigational oral zonulin receptor antagonist being developed for treatment of Celiac Disease (“celiac disease”), was assessed in a double blind, placebo controlled study of celiac disease patients, the product induced a positive result on the trial’s primary endpoint, intestinal permeability. The objective of the Phase Ib proof of concept study was to establish the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of single doses of oral AT-1001 in adult celiac disease patients in remission that are challenged with a large dose of gluten. Key findings from this Phase Ib study include:

Intestinal barrier function was maintained by AT-1001 despite a supramaximal stimulus with gluten. There was a significant increase in permeability in placebo recipients but not in AT-1001 recipients following the 2.5 gram gluten challenge, as determined by urinary Lactulose-to-Mannitol (L-to-M) ratio.

AT-1001 was generally safe and well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were reported.

AT-1001 plasma concentrations were unmeasureable (< 0.5 ng/ml), indicating little to no systemic absorption when administered orally.

The biological effect of AT-1001 persisted beyond the drugs residence time, suggesting that AT-1001 modulates both persistent leak and immune activation.

Symptoms of acute gluten toxicity were inhibited in the AT-1001 arm when compared to placebo.

"AT-1001’s inhibitory effect is most likely related to its capacity to prevent zonulin binding to its receptor on the lining of the gut, reducing exposure to gliadin and immune activation” stated Blake Paterson, M.D., Alba’s Co-founder and CEO. "We are excited by the demonstration of a systemic immunological benefit arising from a physiological event at a mucosal surface of the small bowel, and look forward to completion of our Phase II clinical trial to further assess AT-1001’s impact in this debilitating disease.”

About AT-1001

AT-1001 is an orally administered octapeptide zonulin receptor antagonist that appears to exert its inhibitory effect on gliadin-induced tight junction disassembly by blocking putative zonulin receptors on the luminal surface of the small intestine. Pretreatment with the peptide fails to inhibit gliadin induced zonulin release, while administration of zonulin analogues or gliadin in the presence of AT-1001 fail to significantly affect intestinal permeability, confirming the effect of the molecule is specific to the zonulin receptor. AT-1001 is currently under investigation in a multicenter, double blind, placebo controlled Phase II dose ranging study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of AT-1001 in 79 celiac disease subjects during gluten challenge.

About Zonulin

Zonulin is an endogenous signaling protein that transiently and reversibly opens the tight junctions between the cells of epithelial and endothelial tissues such as the intestinal mucosa, blood brain barrier and pulmonary epithelia. Discovered by Alba’s co-founder, Dr. Alessio Fasano, zonulin appears to be involved in many disease states 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 and inflammatory diseases.

About Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a T-cell mediated auto-immune disease that occurs in genetically susceptible individuals and is characterized by small intestinal inflammation, injury and intolerance to gluten. According to the National Institutes of Health, celiac disease affects approximately 3 million Americans. The only current treatment for celiac disease is complete elimination of gluten from the diet, which results in remission for some patients.

About Alba

Alba Therapeutics Corporation is a privately held biopharmaceutical company based in Baltimore, Maryland. Alba is dedicated to commercializing disease-modifying therapeutics and vaccine and drug delivery adjuvants based on the zonulin pathway. Alba’s lead molecule, AT-1001, is targeted towards the treatment of Celiac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.

2. digestive enzymes to break down the 33 peptide chain of gliadin, which is the "problem" part of gluten Open Original Shared Link

3. genetically modifying wheat and such.