Celimmune LLC, a clinical development-stage immunotherapy company focused on treating and preventing autoimmune diseases, announced that Dr. Francisco Leon, chief executive officer and chief medical officer, will provide an oral presentation on an abstract related to the company's lead product candidate, AMG 714, at the 16th International Coeliac Disease Symposium (ICDS) on June 24, 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic.

The abstract, entitled, "Rationale for AMG 714, an anti-IL-15 mAb, in the treatment of celiac and refractory celiac disease," is scheduled to be presented during the novel treatment session from 1100 hours – 1230 hours.

AMG 714 is a phase 2, anti-IL-15 monoclonal antibody that Celimmune has licensed from Amgen and is developing for the treatment of diet non-responsive celiac disease and type II refractory celiac disease (RCD II), an in situ small bowel T cell lymphoma. IL-15 is a molecule produced by the immune system and intestinal cells that is considered to be a central regulator of celiac disease and a driver of lymphoma growth in RCD II. IL-15 has been shown to be one of the key factors in the loss of tolerance to food antigens, and it also is believed to be involved in Crohn's disease and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Celiac disease is a chronic hereditary systemic autoimmune disease triggered by gluten consumption. Celiac disease is characterized by damage to the lining of the small intestine, causing gastrointestinal dysfunction and debilitating symptoms. Nutritional malabsorption can lead to a failure to thrive in children and anemia and osteopenia in adults. Over the course of a lifetime, untreated or poorly managed celiac disease is often associated with deteriorating general health, multiple serious intestinal and extra-intestinal medical complications, and increased morbidity and mortality. Currently approximately 1 per cent of Western and 0.5 per cent of Asian populations suffer from celiac disease and the diagnosed prevalence is expected to increase dramatically with improved diagnostic tools and clinical awareness.