Alba Therapeutics Announces Positive Results of Phase IIb Trial in Celiac Disease"Tight junction regulators represent a paradigm shift in the treatment of immune mediated and inflammatory disorders such as CeD. Recently published data suggest 70% of patients continue to be exposed to gluten while on a gluten-free diet, highlighting the need for additional treatments for patients with celiac disease," said Joseph A. Murray, MD, the Phase IIb study's lead investigator and a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic. "These promising trial results contribute to a growing body of data supporting the development of larazotide acetate, and the medical community looks forward to its continued development in an effort to provide an option to patients who struggle to manage the disease through diet alone."
An article that I found in a medical publication where circulation is restricted/targeted to gastroenterologists doesn't sound so promising:
Now this trial included doses of 0.5, 1, or 2 mg of larazotide acetate (by Alba Therapeutics) or a placebo taken three times daily. Note that only 31 % of the patients had good results, and only the 0.5 mg dose was effective. If that doesn't constitute disappointing results, I'm a monkey's uncle.Larazotide acetate increased the proportion of patients who reported no or very few symptoms by 31% (P=0.034), yet only the 0.5-mg dose was effective, according to the researchers.
If you've been following this project, you probably remember that I was very skeptical about the whole concept right from the start.But as much as most patients today love to cure all their ills by popping a pill, I have a hunch that even as poor as this product appears to be, it will receive FDA approval, and people will buy this junk, and brag on how much it helps them.
Phineas T. Barnum's famous quote was right on target.
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