ANTI-COLITIC EFFICACY OF SC-41930 IN COLITIC COTTON-TOP TAMARINS

To evaluate anti-colitic efficacy, eight cotton-top tamarins (CTTs) wi th histologically confirmed persistent active colitis were given the a nti-inflammatory agent SC-41930 (10 mg/kg BW by gavage BID) for eight weeks. Colonic endoscopy and biopsy observations, CBCs and clinical ch emistries, and stool consistency were evaluated pre-, mid-, and posttr eatment. Colitic activity was graded histologically from A1 (mild) to A5 (severe); results varied among the seven animals that completed the study: five improved, one worsened, and one was unchanged. Serum enzy me levels were significantly reduced with treatment. Stool condition r emained puddly throughout treatment and body weights did not vary from pretreatment levels. However, SC-41930 produced histological evidence (reduced numbers of polymorphonuclear cells) of anti-colitic efficacy over an eight-week treatment period in CTTs with persistent active co litis. These results support the use of the CTT colitis model to evalu ate efficacy of therapeutic agents and provide useful predictive infor mation to aid in the medical management of human IBD.