New York and Melbourne, Australia---Immuron Ltd. (ASX: IMC ), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oral immunotherapy development and antibody manufacturing, announces today a U.S. distribution agreement with and a strategic investment of USD $300,000 (AUD $450,000) by Alaven Consumer Healthcare, Inc.. In addition to the capital contribution, Immuron (formerly called Anadis) will receive on-going royalties on net retail sales and be eligible to receive milestone payments if certain annual net retail sale figures are achieved. Sales will be initiated in early 2009 and Immuron is also guaranteed with minimum sales.
Alaven Consumer Healthcare, Inc. is a privately held consumer health company located in Marietta, Georgia, and is a sister company to Alaven Pharmaceutical LLC which develops and markets prescription products treating gastroenterological, women’s health and anemia conditions.
The agreement includes US national distribution rights for Immuron’s Travelan, an oral formulation containing antibodies against E.coli bacteria, the leading cause of Travelers’ Diarrhea (TD). Alaven shall be responsible for the marketing and distribution of Travelan in the U.S. In addition to purchasing the bulk Travelan, Alaven shall be paying royalties on net sales, and has committed to annual minimum purchases.
Travelers’ diarrhea (TD) is a clinical syndrome resulting from microbial contamination of food and water due usually to gaps in local sanitation. It is most frequently caused by E.coli bacterial toxins. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2008), on average 30%-50% of all travelers to high-risk areas (about 50 millions persons per year) will develop TD during a 1- to 2-week stay, with each case lasting 3-4 days.
Furthermore, E. coli contamination of water remains a serious medical issue for the military and other long-term residents in developing countries, such as aid workers and retirees.
Travelan contains antibodies against 16 strains of E.coli, including those most frequently seen in tourist destinations (e.g. Mexico) and elsewhere (e.g. Iraq) and has been shown as effective in providing protection from infection with E.coli in numerous double blind placebo controlled clinical studies.
Dr. Zeil Rosenberg, Immuron CEO noted, “This agreement represents an important milestone in bringing Immuron’s oral antibody technology into the marketplace. We expect this product to meet a very large, unmet consumer and military health need. Alaven Consumer Healthcare has proven itself capable of marketing national consumer brands and is an ideal partner for this and other products in our pipeline.”
Alaven Consumer Healthcare General Manager David Swenson, stated, “Travelan is addressing a significant market and we plan to launch an aggressive push for it through multiple marketing channels.”
Additionally, Immuron had completed a private placement (at 5c per share) in excess of AUS $735,000, of which Alaven participated with an investment of U.S. $250,000 (around AUS $375,000). Alaven has also committed to invest during the first 2009 calendar quarter an additional amount of US$50,000 at the then prevailing market price.
Dr. Oren Fuerst, VP Business Development of Immuron states: “We are very pleased to successfully raise capital in this turbulent market environment. This equity investment and distribution agreement, are another testimony to the great promise of our technology platform,
Immuron Limited (IMC.AX) (formerly called Anadis) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on antigen-primed, dairy-derived health products. Anadis’ proprietary and antibody manufacturing technology enables it to rapidly develop polyclonal antibody and other protein-based oral therapies to a range of important infectious and immune- mediated diseases, including influenza, Oral and GI tract mucositis, and HIV related inflammation.
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Immuron Limited (IMC.AX) (formerly called Anadis) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on antigen-primed, dairy-derived health products. Anadis’ proprietary and antibody manufacturing technology enables it to rapidly develop polyclonal antibody and other protein-based oral therapies to a range of important infectious and immune- mediated diseases, including influenza, Oral and GI tract mucositis, and HIV related inflammation.