VRI probiotics inhibit inflammation

VRI Biomedical (ASX:VRI) has reported success in the first stage of a drug discovery program to identify the molecule responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of its probiotic bacterial strain PCC.

Research performed by the Rowett Research Institute in the UK has shown that PCC is capable of inhibiting inflammation, with activity at both the gene and protein levels. And the anti-inflammatory activity inhibits a range of different inflammatory pathways, suggesting broad specificity and application.

In addition, the anti-inflammatory activity appeared to be restricted to the bacterial cell membrane and not secreted.

The results mean that VRI can move on to the second stage of its discovery program to identify the bacterial molecule(s) responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity. The company hopes to complete this stage of the program by the end of the year, and intends to out-license any discoveries to pharmaceutical companies for development and commercialisation.