Celiac Vaccine Update
Quick Update on the Vaccine Search
Back in January, 2019, I wrote about how the Nexvax2 was in Stage 2 trials. This vaccine would help people with celiac disease to occasionally enjoy foods that may contain gluten.
I thought I would follow up on the update of the testing.
Nexvax2 Trial has been discontinued
Unfortunately testing didn't go well. Six Months into Phase 2, and the trial was stopped.
The results of the trial showed that the vaccine didn't provide any more protection from gluten when compared to the placebo.
The official statement from June 25, 2020:
The results from an interim analysis revealed Nexvax2 did not provide statistically meaningful protection from gluten exposure for celiac disease patients when compared with placebo.
ImmusanT, Inc is a biotechnology company focused on developing a treatment, and a set of diagnostic and monitoring tools to manage patients with Celiac disease.
Next Steps for ImmusanT
ImmusanT has closed its doors shortly after stopping the Nexvax2 trial. Any testing information is likely to be Vatera Healthcare Partners as they were the primary backers to ImmusanT.
While it's disappointing to hear that Nexvax2 didn't make it. There are plenty of other trials still in play.
Zedira Phase 2b Trial
Earlier this month, the New England Journal of Medicine featured a story about an experimental drug called ZED1227 that looks to be promising to those diagnosed with celiac disease. (A Randomized Trial of a Transglutaminase 2 Inhibitor for Celiac Disease)
According to early testing, patients on the drug showed fewer signs of intestinal damage when eating a biscuit with some gluten.
As part of the study, patients have to take a pill every morning and and once in a while they would eat a biscuit that contained a trace of gluten.
Zedira is still moving forward with the phase 2b study in Europe.