SUNNYVALE, Calif. and ALACHUA, Fla., Feb. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarantus BioScience, Inc. (OTCQB:AMBS), a biotechnology company discovering and developing treatments and diagnostics for diseases associated with neurodegeneration and apoptosis centered around its patented therapeutic protein MANF, and Banyan Biomarkers, the leader in developing in vitro diagnostic products to detect TBI, today announced that the companies will be making a joint poster presentation March 6-7, 2013 at The 3rd Annual Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Conference in Washington, DC (www.tbiconference.com). The poster is entitled “Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) neuroprotection from necrotic and apoptotic cell death in rat cortical cultures.”
“MANF significantly inhibited caspase and calpain-mediated cellular processes of cell death and conferred overall neuroprotection in our cellular model systems of TBI,” said Dr. Juan Martinez, Director of Scientific Operations at Banyan Biomarkers. “This neuroprotection indicates therapeutic potential based on well-defined biochemical pathway inhibition. We look forward to working with Amarantus to further develop MANF’s therapeutic potential in TBI.”
About Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (MANF)
MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of apoptosis (Programmed Cell Death). Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (MANF) is believed to have broad potential because it is a naturally-occurring protein produced by the body for the purpose of reducing and preventing apoptosis (in response to injury or disease), via the unfolded protein response. By manufacturing MANF and administering it to the body, Amarantus is seeking to use a regenerative medicine approach to assist the body with higher quantities of MANF when needed. Amarantus is the front-runner and primary holder of intellectual property (IP) around MANF, and is initially focusing on the development of MANF-based protein therapeutics. MANF’s current lead indication is Parkinson’s disease with additional focus on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Future indications may include myocardial infarction and certain rare and ultra-rare orphan diseases where MANF is currently being evaluated.
About Amarantus BioScience, Inc.
Amarantus BioScience, Inc. is a development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008. The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat and/or diagnose Parkinson’s disease, Traumatic Brain Injury and other human diseases. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (“MANF”) and is developing MANF-based products as treatments for brain disorders. The Company also is a Founding Member of the Coalition for Concussion Treatment (#C4CT), a movement initiated in collaboration with Brewer Sports International seeking to raise awareness of new treatments in development for concussions and nervous-system disorders. For further information please visit www.Amarantus.com.
About Banyan Biomarkers
Banyan Biomarkers is the leader in developing in vitro diagnostic products to address unmet clinical needs for the detection of traumatic brain injury. The Company is focused on developing a simple point-of-care blood test that will be used by physicians to detect the presence and severity of brain trauma and improve the medical management of head injured patients. Banyan Biomarkers has a licensing agreement with the University of Florida for exclusive global use of technology related to this product. To learn more about Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., visit http://www.banyanbio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications and/or advantages presented by Amarantus’ PhenoGuard technology, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus’ new product candidates, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in Amarantus’ most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Amarantus Bioscience, Inc.
(408) 737-2734
pr@amarantus.com
Investor/Media Contact:
IR Sense, LLC
Remy Bernarda
(408) 737-2734 x109
remy@irsense.com
SOURCE Amarantus Bioscience, Inc.
