Avaxia Biologics generates compelling pre-clinical data in animal models of IBD

Avaxia Biologics, Inc., a privately-held biotech company developing an innovative platform technology to deliver orally-active antibodies to the gastrointestinal tract, announced today that it has generated compelling pre-clinical data in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Avaxia's orally administered anti-TNF product AVX-470 significantly reduced disease severity in three different animal models and showed superior efficacy to an oral steroid drug in a comparative test of disease remission. Dr. Barbara Fox, founder and Chief Executive Officer, will present these data at the Biotech Showcase 2011, being held on January 10-12, 2011 in San Francisco, California.

Dr. Fox's presentation will take place at 3:15 PM on Wednesday January 12 at the Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco Hotel. The presentation will include positive efficacy data from three animal models of IBD, including statistically significant efficacy in a remission model of the disease.  Dr. Fox's presentation will also include efficacy data from an experiment that compared AVX-470 to an oral steroid in a DSS-induced colitis model of IBD.  Dr. Fox commented that, "We believe these consistent and statistically significant results in the standard animal models of IBD indicate that our orally administered anti-TNF product has the potential to become a leading therapy for inflammatory bowel disease, a chronic and debilitating disease of over a million and a half North Americans and four million people worldwide.  We are also heartened to observe that our product has shown superior efficacy to an oral steroid drug in a comparative test of disease remission.  With these impressive results, and with the support of our scientific advisors, Avaxia plans to enter into clinical trials with AVX-470 in patients with IBD this year.  AVX-470 appears to be on track to be the first orally-active anti-TNF antibody for IBD."

SOURCE Avaxia Biologics, Inc.