Regentys will partner with Cook Biotech to develop a novel treatment for ulcerative colitis.

Under the terms of a signed letter of intent, Cook Biotech will develop and manufacture Regentys’ licensed clinical product, ECMH Rectal Solution (Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel), which will be used in first-in-man clinical studies conducted by Regentys in 2018. As part of the partnership, Cook Biotech has become a stakeholder in Regentys.

“We are excited to partner with a world-class organization like Cook Biotech,” said Regentys chief business officer Brian Andersen. “We have been working with the outstanding team at Cook Biotech for the last several months to complete the technology transfer of our product in order to scale our manufacturing for our clinical program, which will begin in the second half of 2018. Cook Biotech’s experience in the production of ECM is unmatched. They have successfully produced commercial products that have been used, and are currently being used, to treat patients worldwide for more than 20 years.”

Ulcerative colitis, one of the two major forms of inflammatory bowel disease (the other being Crohn’s disease), is characterized by chronic diarrhea, pain, bleeding, urgency, and an increased risk of cancer. Research shows that an estimated 900,000 U.S. residents, and more than 1.3 million people worldwide, are currently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.