SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB: AMBS), a biotechnology company developing new treatments and diagnostics for Parkinson’s disease and Traumatic Brain Injury centered on its proprietary anti-apoptosis therapeutic protein MANF, today announced that it has appointed Robert J. Zimmerman, SD as product development advisor. In Dr. Zimmerman’s advisory role, he will assist Amarantus management with expansion of the Company’s MANF product development strategy. Dr. Zimmerman will also assist in the procurement of relationships with top-tier vendors to ensure that state-of-the art development data are gathered with high quality test article materials. Amarantus expects to gather data in additional indications through its research grant with the Center of Excellence in Apoptosis Research, collaboration with highly-respected academic labs, and through outsourcing efficacy and toxicology studies with independent contract labs.
“I have been involved with Amarantus formally and informally for the past three years supporting the founders as they work tirelessly to advance MANF to a stage where it has real commercial potential,” said Robert J. Zimmerman, SD. “While that effort has been centered on Parkinson’s disease, I believe additional opportunities exist to diversify this therapeutic candidate. Ischemia/reperfusion, cardiovascular disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, diabetes and potentially other disease conditions appear to be impacted by MANF based upon preclinical studies and the literature.”
Dr. Zimmerman is currently a biopharmaceutical product development consultant in the Bay Area at Zimmerman Consulting. Prior to starting his company, Dr. Zimmerman held senior management positions at Signature BioScience, Inc. where he served as Chief Operating Officer and as President, overseeing all research and development activities. Previously, he served as Vice President of Biotechnology Research at Bayer Corporation, where he was responsible for the management of all biotechnology research activities within the Pharmaceutical Division. At Bayer, he managed five departments including molecular technologies, scientific informatics, cell and analytical biology, pharmacology and preclinical development. Prior to Bayer, he served in positions of increasing responsibility at Chiron Corporation. Dr. Zimmerman has been involved in the submission of dozens of Investigational New Drug applications to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies in a variety of indications, as well as successful marketing applications including interleukin-2 (IL2) and beta-interferon. Dr. Zimmerman received a doctor of science degree in physiology and radiobiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. He also earned a M.S. in physiology from The Ohio State University and a B.S. from Denison University.
“Dr. Zimmerman’s extensive experience in drug development and his focus on risk mitigation will be extremely helpful as we begin to position MANF as a potential game-changing technology across a broad spectrum of applications related to apoptosis. While Parkinson’s remains our lead application, a comprehensive approach to advancing MANF towards the clinic may help us identify other opportunities that could substantially improve shareholder value in the near-term, without the deployment of significant additional resources,” added Gerald E. Commissiong, President and CEO of Amarantus.
About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.
Amarantus BioSciences, 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.
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.
Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.
(408) 737-2734
pr@amarantus.com
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SOURCE Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.
