SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jaguar Animal Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAGX) ("Jaguar" or the "Company"), an animal health company focused on developing and commercializing first-in-class gastrointestinal products for companion and production animals, announced today that it has initiated a pilot safety study in conjunction with Louisiana State University to evaluate the use of crofelemer for treatment of diarrhea associated with acute colitis in horses. Crofelemer is an active pharmaceutical ingredient isolated and purified from the Croton lechleri tree, which is sustainably harvested.
Colitis is defined as inflammation of the large bowel, and the condition can affect adult horses as well as foals. Acute colitis can cause sudden, massive fluid loss and severe electrolyte imbalances that can result in death in a matter of hours. Acute colitis often occurs when Salmonella and Clostridium difficile, bacteria that are normally present in the gut, are activated by stress, or when the bacteria Neorickettsia risticii is ingested, causing Potomac Horse Fever, which has been studied as a secretory type of diarrhea by third parties. Stress (e.g., shipping, changes in daily routines, illness, hospitalization, racing), recent diet changes, recent antimicrobial administration, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy can also put horses at risk for acute colitis.
"Colitis can affect thousands of horses in the United States each year, and treatment of acute colitis with crofelemer in high-value racing and performance horses represents a premium specialty market opportunity that aligns with our continued focus on gut health across multiple species," stated Lisa Conte, Jaguar's president and CEO. "We intend to seek MUMS—minor use in a major species—designation for an indication in horses."
In this pilot safety study, three horses will be treated with four consecutive, three-day cycles of escalating dose levels of a crofelemer paste administered orally twice or four times per day. Clinical observations and adverse events will be evaluated for dose-limiting toxicity after each dose level.
About Jaguar Animal Health, Inc.
Jaguar Animal Health, Inc. is an animal health company focused on developing and commercializing first-in-class gastrointestinal products for companion and production animals. Canalevia™ is Jaguar's lead prescription drug product candidate for the treatment of various forms of diarrhea in dogs. Canalevia™ is a canine-specific formulation of crofelemer, an active pharmaceutical ingredient isolated and purified from the Croton lechleri tree, which is sustainably harvested. Neonorm™ Calf and Neonorm™ Foal are the Company's lead non-drug products. Neonorm™ is a standardized botanical extract derived from the Croton lechleri tree. Canalevia™ and Neonorm™ are distinct products that act at the same last step in a physiological pathway generally present in mammals. Jaguar has nine active investigational new animal drug applications, or INADs, filed with the FDA and intends to develop species-specific formulations of Neonorm™ in six additional target species, and formulations of Canalevia™ for cats, horses and dogs.
For more information, please visit www.jaguaranimalhealth.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements." These include statements regarding Jaguar's plan to launch an equine formulation of crofelemer for treatment of acute colitis in horses, the Company's intention to develop species-specific formulations of Neonorm™ in additional target species, and the Company's plan to develop formulations of Canalevia™ for cats, horses and dogs. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "aim," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are only predictions. Jaguar has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond Jaguar's control. Except as required by applicable law, Jaguar does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
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Contacts
KCSA Strategic Communications
Garth Russell, 212-896-1250
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Allison Soss, 212-896-1267
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