NatureWise Biotech & Medicals Corp. -- 6 June, 2008 -- Botanically-derived drug discovery and development firm NatureWise Biotech & Medicals Corp. (TPO:4732) announced this week two major updates to its drug discovery and development pipeline, with research results to be presented at the BIO 2008 conference and exhibition in San Diego 17-19 June, 2008.
The first is a drug candidate for targeted cancer therapy and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disorder. The second relates to the company’s breakthrough neurotrophic factors derived from prenylflavanone agents (PPLs), which, unlike conventional neurotrophic factors, can pass the blood-brain barrier and reach neurons in the brain. This has exciting implications for the development of new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The company will be making poster presentations at the BIO 2008 Innovation Corridor, a component of the 17-19 June international life science convention showcasing the latest advances in biotechnology research.
President of NatureWise, Dr. CY Huang, spoke of the upcoming presentation. “We’re very exciting about the opportunity to present our findings at such an esteemed event and in front of such an important gathering of the international biotechnology and pharmaceutical community. We also look forward to soon announcing positive news from a clinical trial currently underway in Taiwan, comparing our PPLs with donepezil HCl therapy in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease,” said Huang.
Regarding its plans, the company is looking to out-license its neural stem cell activity enhancement technologies. “We’re also seeking partners willing to join us for further development into this exciting field of research,” mentioned Huang.
NatureWise is also offering OEM or contract manufacturing in the areas of health foods or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) products. Please visit NatureWise in San Diego at BIO 2008, booth 2501 in the exhibition hall, part of the Taiwan Pavilion.
About NBM-HD-1: Brain cancer and SMA therapy drug candidate:
NBM-HD-1 is NatureWise’s cancer drug candidate, a new histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor semi-synthesized from a natural compound with small molecule. Treating a range cancer cell lines (brain, colon, lung, liver, and breast) with NBM-HD-1 resulted in a significant increase of acetylated tubulin, histone H3 and H4 , and P21 waf1/cip levels in a dose- and time- dependent manner. The in vivo study of HD-1 on mice with xenografted glioma showed a significant reduction in tumor sizes compared with those of control group.
Research has also shown that the compound can pass the blood-brain barrier. Fifteen minutes after administering a single dose of 10 mg/kg NBM-HD-1 by IV, 25 percent of the compound could be measured in the brain cells. These results suggest that NBM-HD-1 has promising potential to become a drug to treat brain cancer. Moreover, many HDAC inhibitors were reported to be quality candidates for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
About neurotrophic agents from PPLs for neurodegenerative disease therapy:
Several prenylflavanone compounds of small molecular weight--abbreviated as PPLs--were isolated from Taiwanese bee propolis. At low concentrations (as low as 150 ng/mL), these PPLs increased both the survival of cortical neurons and the proliferation of neural stem cells, and induced differentiation of neural stem cells into large number of neuronal cells. They were also found in rat astrocyte cells to significantly up-regulate gene expression of neurotrophic factors, such as GDNF and BDNF. These results suggest that PPLs play an important role as neurotrophic agents to enhance the survival, differentiation and function of neural stem cells. Furthermore, PPLs have been found capable of greatly enhancing the outgrowth of neurites.
About NatureWise Biotech & Medicals Corp:
Founded in 2000, Taipei, Taiwan-based NatureWise Biotech & Medicals Corp. is a botanically-derived drug discovery/development and health product company. The company’s LipoCol Forte, a product for the treatment of (hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia), was the first product in Taiwan to receive a ‘New Drug Certificate of New Chinese Medicine’ issued by Taiwan’s Department of Health. It is the first TCM drug in Taiwan to complete Phase III trials in accordance with GCP guidelines, LipoCol Forte can be prescribed by doctors of Western medicine as well as TCM doctors. In addition, NatureWise also markets a range of dietary supplements and herbal products, including IQBLESS for memory enhancement.
Contact:
Jenny Jang, Marketing Manager
NatureWise Biotech & Medicals Corp.
3F, 216 Wenlin N. Rd., Taipei 112, Taiwan
Tel: 886 2 2821 7057
Fax: 886 2 2823 7782
Email: jenny.jang@naturewise.com.tw
URL: www.naturewise.com.tw
