Ocera Therapeutics To Present Two Preclinical Studies At The International Liver Congress

Ocera Therapeutics Inc

disclosed that it would present two preclinical studies at the International Liver Congress 2016 of the European Association for the Study of the Liver. The conference is being held in Spain, according to the company. Ocera Therapeutics indicated that one study investigated the effects of orally-administered OCR-002 in bile duct ligated (BDL) rats, a model of cirrhosis, and sham-operated rats. The company's CEO, Linda Grais, said that "These two exciting preclinical studies continue to validate the potential utility of OCR-002 to reduce ammonia and to address some of the systemic complications of cirrhosis for which current treatments are lacking or ineffective. We now also have preclinical evidence that orally-administered OCR-002 lowers ammonia, an important step in the development of a chronic therapy for hepatic encephalopathy (HE) prevention." The CEO said further that "Further, the data support earlier findings that OCR-002 may have the potential to reduce brain edema, a characteristic and complicating factor of HE, and also to protect against the development of muscle mass loss associated with chronic liver disease. The new insights learned about neurochemical changes in the brain provide an opportunity for further research with OCR-002 to treat this debilitating condition." Shares of the company traded flat at $2.88 on Friday.