Napo Pharmaceuticals
Crofelemer
A proprietary gastro-intestinal compound in clinical development for four distinct product indications
market
Acute infectious disease - Cholera (product: CRO-ID)
Vibrio cholerae is listed as a Category B Biodefense Pathogen in the US. The toxin sometimes causes severe secretory diarrhea, which creates the potential for fatal dehydration. In those patients who are untreated, mortality rates can be as high as 50%, and death can occur within hours.
The primary current treatment is replacement of fluid, which is complicated by the continued production of high volume watery diarrhea. The disease continues to occur endemically and epidemically in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America but also sporadically occurs in the Southeastern United States. In 2005, WHO reported the incidence of cholera resistance was 100% for certain antibiotics in certain outbreaks.