SUNNYVALE, CA, Aug 02, 2011 -- Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (AMBS), a biotechnology company developing MANF, a first-in-class, disease-modifying therapeutic protein that addresses an underlying form of cell death known as apoptosis, today presented a summary of the peer-reviewed findings reported to date in prominent scientific journals that provide a compelling scientific rationale for the further development of the Company’s Parkinson’s program. The publications, appearing in seven different scientific journals, indicate that MANF’s molecular properties make it an attractive development candidate for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. This announcement follows data reported last week, in which Amarantus reproduced key pre-clinical data that provides a sound scientific rationale to focus the MANF Parkinson’s development program on the protocols required to gain regulatory approval to initiate human clinical studies.
“The scientific community is generally quite conservative when it comes to the evaluation of new drug candidates for the treatment of poorly-served conditions such as Parkinson’s disease,” said Martin D. Cleary, Chief Executive Officer of Amarantus. “The breadth of data published over the last 8 years in these leading scientific journals represents significant external scientific validation of MANF’s potential and gives the Company a solid foundation to further invest in its Parkinson’s program to confirm MANF’s ability to slow or reverse the progression of this devastating disease.”
MANF is a novel protein that was discovered from Amarantus’ PhenoGuard Protein Discovery Engine, which uses the Company’s proprietary cell lines to discover neurotrophic factors with activity against specific neurodegenerative diseases. Neurotrophic factors are proteins that protect neurons from various insults and are promising drug candidates for Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The data reported below identifies a unique mechanism of action for MANF among neurotrophic factors:
-- In research reported in 2010 in The Journal of Biological Chemistry [286:2675-2680] researchers concluded that MANF has a unique mechanism to rescue neurons dying by apoptosis;
-- In a review published in 2010 in Developmental Neurobiology, [70:360-371], researchers reviewed the breadth of published data and concluded that MANF is a potential therapeutic protein for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease;
-- In research reported in 2009 The Journal of Neuroscience, [29(30):9651-9659], MANF demonstrated neurorestorative properties in a rodent model of Parkinson’s, MANF was also readily distributed throughout the striatum and demonstrated significant therapeutic potential for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease;
-- In research reported in 2009 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, [106:2429-2434], researchers concluded that MANF is essential for the maintenance of dopamine positive neurites and dopamine levels in Drosophila. Further, the knockout of MANF in Drosophila leads to degeneration of axonal bundles in the nervous system;
-- In a review published in 2007 in Science, [411:pe60], researchers reported that MANF was part of a new class of neurotrophic factors that may present advantages versus previously studied neurotrophic factors for Parkinson’s disease;
-- In research reported in 2006 in NeuroReport, [17:293-297], researchers concluded that MANF increases the release of the neurotransmitter GABA from pre-synaptic nerve terminals in the substantia nigra, which in turn may dampen the excitotoxic action of excessive glutamate that has been associated with dopaminergic cell death;
-- In research reported in 2003 in Journal of Molecular Neuroscience [20: 173-188], researchers announced the discovery of MANF and reported that MANF protects the dopaminergic neurons that degenerate in Parkinson’s disease in vitro.
“Combined with the results reported last week, these scientific publications provide significant independent validation for Amarantus’ lead candidate MANF’s potential to address the apoptotic neuronal death associated with Parkinson’s disease,” said John W. Commissiong, Chief Scientific Officer of Amarantus and discover of MANF. “The results published to date indicate that there are potentially several other CNS-related medical conditions where MANF could play a vital role due to its novel mechanism of action for rescuing apoptotic neurons. We fully intend to develop additional strategies to maximize the value of the extensive intellectual property portfolio the Company owns covering MANF to treat nervous system disorders.”
About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.
Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is engaged in the research and development of first-in-class disease-modifying treatments that address the underlying cause of cell death, known as apoptosis, associated with a wide range of diseases. The Company’s most advanced product candidate, MANF, is a therapeutic protein indicated for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and Myocardial Infarction. Currently incubating at the Parkinson’s Institute in Sunnyvale, CA, Amarantus BioSciences is the recipient of a research grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. See www.Amarantus.com
