Salix Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bausch Health Companies Inc. announced its affiliate has entered into a research agreement with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to further investigate the microbiome in the treatment of GI disorders.
Under the terms of the agreement, the lab of world-renowned microbiome researcher Mark Pimentel, M.D., executive director of the Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST) Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, will focus on the discovery of new therapeutic treatments related to conditions of the gut microbiome. Dr. Pimentel has played an integral role in advancing science’s understanding of the gut microbiome including his widely-accepted research on a methanogen as an agent for causing constipation in humans.1
“The gut microbiome represents a great deal of promise and opportunity for disruptive change in gastroenterology,” said Mark McKenna, president, Salix. “This research agreement embodies Salix’s commitment to working with leaders in the field to advance science and further our goal of bringing new and innovative treatments to patients.”
Salix has the option to acquire any therapeutic invention discovered through the research.
“My philosophy is to treat these microorganisms—in other words—find the right drug to treat the bug,” said Pimentel “Through this research agreement with Salix, we look to continue to harness the potential of the microbiome in the treatment of GI disorders, as we successfully did with the discovery of rifaximin as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D).”
Salix and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are looking to begin research in the third quarter of 2018.
Reference
1 Chatterjee S, Park S, Low K, Kong Y, Pimentel M. The degree of breath methane production in IBS correlates with the severity of constipation. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007 Apr;102(4):837-41.
(Source:Bausch Health Companies Inc.)
