Spirulina-Based drug shows promise against food poisoning
NCT ID NCT04182490
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a new oral treatment called LMN-101, made from spirulina, to see if it can prevent or control Campylobacter infection. Healthy volunteers took LMN-101 or a placebo for two days, then were exposed to the bacteria. The goal was to check safety and how well the treatment works. Results could lead to a new way to manage this common cause of food poisoning.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- LMN-101 (a protein from spirulina that targets Campylobacter bacteria)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could lead to a new way to prevent or treat Campylobacter infections, reducing diarrhea and other symptoms.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early Phase 2 trial with only 42 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatment is experimental and may not work better than placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
42 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2022
- Finished
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Oct 2022
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 50 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or non-pregnant female between 18 and 50 years of age, inclusive, at time of informed consent 2. Willingness to participate after written informed consent obtained 3. Available for all planned clinical visits (for physical examinations, blood draws, and stool collections) and follow-up monitoring (9 or 10 clinic visits and 1 phone interview 6 months post-challenge) 4. Agreement to follow the restrictions of the study. Willing and able to follow the study directions and procedures, including the rules and procedures of the clinical research unit. 5. Demonstrated comprehension of the protocol procedures including knowledge of Campylobacter illness by passing a written examination (passing grade ≥ 70%). 6. General good health, without significant medical illness or abnormal physical examination findings as determined by the PI. 7. Laboratory values are Grade 1 or lower using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 5.0 as defined below: 1. Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1500/μL 2. Lymphocyte count ≥ 800/μL 3. Platelet count ≥ 125,000/μL 4. Hemoglobin ≥ 13.0 g/dL in males (≥ 11.0 g/dL in females) 5. Serum creatinine ≤1.5x ULN 6. ALT and/or AST ≤ 1.5x ULN 7. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5x ULN 8. Females of childbearing potential must commit to use one of the following highly effective methods of birth control consistently for at least 1 month prior to screening through study completion: 1. Stable hormonal contraception with inhibition of ovulation; or 2. Intrauterine device (IUD); or 3. Bilateral tubal occlusion; or 4. Surgical sterilization (vasectomy) of male partner at least 6 months prior to study; or 5. Sexual abstinence (inactivity). 9. To be considered of non-childbearing potential, females should be surgically sterilized (bilateral tubal ligation, hysterectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy at least 2 months prior to study) or be post-menopausal and at least 1 year since menses with follicle-stimulating hormone ≥ 40 units. 10. Males should use condoms for contraception and refrain from donating sperm through Day 64. 11. BMI between 18.5 and 33.5 inclusive 12. Complies with current Pharmaron Covid-19 policies and procedures Exclusion Criteria 1. Significant medical condition or laboratory abnormalities that in the opinion of the Principal Investigator preclude participation in the study. 2. History of Covid symptoms or positive Covid test within 2 weeks prior to admission date. 3. Alcohol or illicit drug abuse/dependency 4. Positive serology results for HIV, HBsAg, or HCV with confirmatory assays. 5. Pregnancy or breastfeeding 6. Personal or documented family history of Guillain-Barr syndrome or neuromuscular disease; or an inflammatory arthritis such as reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or rheumatoid arthritis; inflammatory bowel disease; autoimmune disease; malignancy (not including basal cell carcinoma); any immunocompromising condition; or history of major gastrointestinal surgery. 7. Evidence of neurological abnormalities. 8. History of reactive arthritis or evidence of inflammatory arthritis on exam. 9. Fever within the 2 weeks prior to time of enrollment. 10. Evidence of IgA deficiency (serum IgA \< 7 mg/mL or below the limit of detection of assay). 11. HLA-B27 positive 12. Allergy or prior intolerance to two or more of the following antibiotics: azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, erythromycin, ampicillin, or amoxicillin/clavulanate. 13. Allergy or prior intolerance to spirulina or spirulina products. 14. Fewer than 3 stools per week or more than 3 stools per day as the usual frequency. 15. History of moderate to serious diarrhea while traveling in a developing country within the last 3 years. 16. History of myocarditis or pericarditis. 17. History of major abdominal surgery or unexplained abdominal scar. Ok if appendectomy or cholecystectomy (one year post) 18. Regular use of antidiarrheal, antacids, loperamide, bismuth subsalicylate diphenoxylate, or similar medication affecting bowel motility (regular defined as at least weekly). 19. Use of proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, or other antacids within 48 hours preceding initiation of LMN-101 or placebo. 20. Use of antibiotics during the 7 days preceding initiation of LMN-101 or placebo. 21. Use of spirulina, or spirulina containing products, other than the study drug in the 30 days preceding initiation of LMN-101 or placebo. 22. Use of any investigational product within 30 days preceding initiation of LMN-101 or placebo or planned use during the active study period. 23. Use of any medication known to affect the immune system (e.g., systemic corticosteroids, chemotherapy, monoclonal antibody biologic response modifiers) within 12 months preceding initiation of LMN-101 or placebo or planned use during the active study period (excluding inhaled steroids with spacer). 24. History of prior exposure to Campylobacter including by vaccination or infection in previous trials, or serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) titer to C. jejuni glycine extract \>1:4000. 25. Other dietary or environmental exposures that may place the subject at high risk for prior Campylobacter exposure (to be determined on a case-by-case basis by the PI). 26. Employment as a food handler; childcare worker; or caregiver for elderly, immunocompromised individuals, or other at-risk population. 27. History of major mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or suicidal ideation 28. Any other criteria which, in the Principal Investigator's opinion, would compromise the ability of the subject to participate in the study, the safety of the study or the results of the study. 29. Potential participant's 12 - lead electrocardiogram demonstrating pathologic abnormalities including non-sinus rhythm, pathologic Q waves, significant ST-T wave changes, corrected QT interval (QTc) using Fridericia correction (QTcF) at screening and Day -1 (admission) \>450 msec. 30. At screening, systolic blood pressure \>140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure \>90 mm Hg.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Pharmaron
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States