* Immuron says in talks with major drugs firm over flu drug * Shares rocket to 20-month high (Adds details) MELBOURNE, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Australian-listed biotech firm Immuron <IMC.AX> is in talks with a major pharmaceutical company for the potential development of Immuron's flu treatment and prevention product, the company said on Thursday. The company's shares tripled in value to a 20-month high following the announcement in their biggest volume in more than six years, and last traded up 100 percent at 8.4 cents, valuing the group at A$12 million ($10 million).The company's flu antibodies have achieved positive results in pre-clinical animal trials, Immuron said. It said it was now in talks with a "top-25 global pharmaceutical company", but it did not name the party. Immuron aims to have a product that would be sold over-the-counter to help boost the effectiveness of vaccinations and flu treatments, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly and young. Earlier this month it said it had shown in lab models that antibodies raised in cattle had neutralised the PR8 variant of the H1N1 virus, and the antibodies had been effective in reducing the influenza virus in mice and preventing death. The lab tests also showed the antibodies could be used to protect mice from flu infection. It is planning further work with the University of Melbourne over the next year to gather more data ahead of human clinical trials. Immuron's executive chairman, Colin Chapman, and its head of research, Grant Rawlin, were not immediately available for comment. ($1=1.197 Australian Dollar) (Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by James Thornhill)
