BioLineRx Enrols First Patient for Celiac Treatment

BioLineRx (NASDAQ:BLRX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company announced today enrollment of the first patient in a Phase 1 and 2 trial of BL-7010, for the treatment of celiac disease. The first patient was enrolled at Tampere Hospital in Finland, a world-leading site for celiac disease research. Results are expected in mid-2014.
As quoted in the press release:

“The commencement of BL-7010’s Phase 1/2 study in a world-leading celiac treatment center is an important milestone in the development of one of our most promising projects,” said Dr. Kinneret Savitsky, Chief Executive Officer of BioLineRx. “
Based on our pre-clinical results to date, we are very enthusiastic about this unique product, which is also generating a lot of excitement from both the scientific and medical communities. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that causes damage to the small intestine, and is associated with other autoimmune disorders, as well as with osteoporosis, infertility, neurological conditions and even cancer. Although 1% of the world’s population suffers from this disease, there are currently no approved celiac therapeutics, and the only treatment available today is a gluten-free diet that is exceptionally difficult and costly to maintain. In addition, there are an extremely small number of clinical-stage projects under development worldwide for celiac disease, which we see as a significant opportunity for our product.”

Read the full press release by BioLineRx (NASDAQ:BLRX)