An email has been sent to your address with instructions for changing your password.
There is no user registered with this email.
Sign Up
To create a free account, please fill out the form below.
Thank you for signing up!
A confirmation email has been sent to your email address. Please check your email and follow the instructions in the message to complete the registration process. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder or contact us for assistance.
Welcome to our platform!
Oops!
Something went wrong while trying to create your new account. Please try again and if the problem persist, Email Us to receive support.
Virios Therapeutics’ Study Featured in Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Highlighting Association of Herpes Simplex Type 1 Viral Infection with Common Gastrointestinal Disorders, Including in Patients with Comorbid Fibromyalgia
Rhea-AI Impact
(Moderate)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Neutral)
Tags
Rhea-AI Summary
Virios Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VIRI) announced pilot study results at the University of Alabama, highlighting a significant association between gastric herpes virus infection and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) such as irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia. The study, published in Infection, found a marked increase in HSV-1 presence in patients with FGIDs. This suggests potential for combination antiviral therapies like IMC-1 to treat these chronic conditions. The company aims to further explore this association and enhance treatment visibility in the medical community.
Positive
Study shows significant association between gastric HSV-1 and chronic gastrointestinal disorders.
Potential utility of combination antiviral therapies like IMC-1 to treat fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome.
IMC-1 has already demonstrated efficacy in a Phase 2a clinical trial.
Negative
Study is still in early, pilot stage; further research needed to confirm findings.
Regulatory approval for IMC-1 and future candidates still uncertain.
Study Demonstrates Potential Utility of Combination Antiviral Drug Therapies, to Treat Patients with Chronic Illnesses such as Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Virios Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIRI), a development-stage biotechnology company focused on advancing novel, combination antiviral therapies to treat debilitating chronic diseases, including fibromyalgia, today announced the results of a pilot study performed at the University of Alabama, titled “Gastric Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection is Associated with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in the Presence and Absence of Comorbid Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Case-Control Study”, were published in the journal Infection. These resultsprovide evidence for a potential mechanistic connection between active herpes virus infection and functional gastrointestinal Disorders (“FGID”), with or without comorbid fibromyalgia (“FM”), as well as the potential for combination antiviral therapy to treat patients with FGIDs and FM.
In this study, tissue biopsies were obtained from three groups of volunteers: Group 1 were those with a FGID, such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, functional constipation as well as comorbid FM; Group 2 were those with FGID only; and Group 3 were control patients without FGID or FM. Epidemiologic studies suggest that FM affects approximately 2% of the population. Previous research published in Gastroenterology in 2021 found that FGIDs impact 40% of persons worldwide and affect quality of life and health care use. Neither histological gastritis nor H. pylori infection were found to be associated with FGIDs or FM.
“The data presented by Dr. Duffy were from a tissue biopsy study jointly conducted between the University of Alabama and Virios Therapeutics,” commented R. Michael Gendreau, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Virios Therapeutics. “The study examined gastric mucosa biopsies from three cohorts: patients with FGID, patients with both FGID and FM, and control patients. Biopsy specimens were analyzed for the presence of active herpes virus infections. As is discussed in the publication, there was a marked increase in the presence of actively replicating herpes simplex virus type 1 (“HSV-1”) in gastric mucosal tissue from the FGID and the FGID and FM patient groups as compared to control patients.”
“This finding highlights the potential role of activated HSV-1 as a potential root cause of common chronic gastrointestinal disorders. Importantly, neither histological gastritis nor H. pylori infection were found to be associated with FGIDs or FM. This publication provides further visibility to the medical community of the potential utility of combination antiviral drug therapies, such as IMC-1, for patients with chronic illnesses such as FM and irritable bowel syndrome (“IBS”), which are often described as functional disorders,” concluded Dr. Gendreau.
Title: Gastric Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection is Associated with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in the Presence and Absence of Comorbid Fibromyalgia: A Pilot Case-Control Study
Authors:Carol Duffy, PhD, The Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; William Pridgen, M.D., Tuscaloosa Surgical Associates; Rich Whitely, MD, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Conclusions: Analysis of gastric mucosa biopsies revealed a significant positive association between actively replicating gastric HSV-1 and multiple functional gastrointestinal disorders, with and without concomitant FM. FGIDs including IBS, functional dysphagia, and functional dyspepsia may be related to active HSV-1 infection. Further investigation into the prevalence and possible causal nature of this association is warranted.
Virios Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VIRI) is a development-stage biotechnology company focused on advancing novel antiviral therapies to treat debilitating chronic diseases, such as fibromyalgia (“FM”). Immune responses related to the activation of tissue resident herpes have been postulated as a potential root cause triggering and/or sustaining chronic illnesses such as FM, irritable bowel disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and other functional somatic syndromes, all of which are characterized by waxing and waning symptoms with no obvious etiology. Our lead development candidate (“IMC-1”) is a novel, proprietary, fixed dose combination of famciclovir and celecoxib designed to synergistically suppress herpes virus replication, with the end goal of reducing virally promoted disease symptoms. IMC-1 has been granted fast track designation by the FDA and is currently being tested in a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (“FORTRESS”), designed to potentially serve as a supportive registrational study. Evidence of IMC-1’s efficacy on a broad spectrum of FM outcome measures was previously demonstrated in a Phase 2a clinical trial.
The Company is pursuing a second development candidate, IMC-2 (valacyclovir and celecoxib), as a potential treatment for managing the fatigue, sleep, attention, pain, autonomic function and anxiety associated with Long COVID, otherwise known as Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). The Company has provided Bateman Horne Center (“BHC”) with an unrestricted grant to conduct this study. BHC is a non-profit, interdisciplinary Center of Excellence advancing the diagnosis and treatment of chronic fatigue disorders, FM, post-viral syndromes, and related comorbidities.
Statements in this press release contain “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on Virios Therapeutics’ current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including risks related to the success, cost and timing of Virios Therapeutics’ preclinical studies and clinical trials; its ability to obtain regulatory approval for IMC-1, IMC-2 and any future product candidates; the company’s need for additional funding; and Virios Therapeutics’ ability to develop and, if approved, commercialize its product candidates. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Virios Therapeutics, Inc. (VIRI) undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
What were the results of the recent study by Virios Therapeutics related to VIRI?
The recent study showed a significant association between gastric herpes virus infection and functional gastrointestinal disorders, indicating potential for antiviral therapies.
What is the significance of the pilot study conducted by Virios Therapeutics?
The pilot study suggests that combination antiviral drug therapies could effectively treat chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome.
When was the study by Virios Therapeutics published?
The study was published in the journal Infection.
What is the focus of Virios Therapeutics?
Virios Therapeutics focuses on developing novel antiviral therapies for chronic diseases, particularly those associated with herpes virus activation.
What does the stock symbol VIRI represent?
The stock symbol VIRI represents Virios Therapeutics, a biotechnology company listed on Nasdaq.
