Novel therapeutic candidates designed to specifically target the neurotoxic, prion-like strains of misfolded Amyloid beta
TSX: PMN
TORONTO, June 2, 2016 /CNW/ - ProMIS Neurosciences (“ProMIS” or the “Company”), a company focused on discovery and development of precision treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that multiple unique therapeutic candidates have successfully completed the screening stage of validation, and will be further developed as potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These monoclonal antibody (mab) therapeutics selectively bind to distinct epitope targets specific for the neurotoxic, prion-like strains of misfolded Amyloid beta (Ab), which are widely believed to play a key role in the development and progression of AD.
“Our screening program has successfully generated multiple mab product candidates directed at five unique epitope targets, enabling us to proceed to our in vitro validation program,” said ProMIS’ CSO, Dr. Neil Cashman. “The validation program will confirm mab binding profiles in cadaveric brain tissue from confirmed AD patients, and evaluate each candidate’s ability to stop prion-like progression and neurotoxicity. The results will determine the most promising product candidates to progress to clinical development.”
The Company applied its proprietary discovery platform, consisting of ProMISTM and Collective Coordinates, to identify unique target epitopes on prion-like strains of misfolded Ab. During the screening program, multiple mabs raised against five unique epitopes were selected as they demonstrated tight binding to the epitope targets and to forms of misfolded Ab, with no measurable off-target binding.
“The key to effective therapy against Alzheimer’s disease is to create drugs that selectively target the root cause of disease, the prion forms of Amyloid beta,” stated ProMIS Executive Chairman, Eugene Williams. “The successful validation of three prion-selective products targeting misfolded variants of SOD1 for ALS, combined with the progress we have made in identifying multiple promising product candidates for Alzheimer’s makes us confident as we move forward with our in vitro validation program.”
About ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc.
The mission of ProMIS Neurosciences is to discover and develop precision medicine therapeutics for effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease and ALS.
ProMIS Neurosciences’ proprietary target discovery engine is based on the use of two, complementary techniques. The Company applies its thermodynamic, computational discovery platformProMIS and Collective Coordinates to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique “precision medicine” approach, ProMIS Neurosciences aims to develop novel antibody therapeutics and specific companion diagnostics for Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. The company has also developed two proprietary technologies to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample. In addition, ProMIS Neurosciences owns a portfolio of therapeutic and diagnostic patents relating to misfolded SOD1 in ALS, and currently has a preclinical monoclonal antibody therapeutic against this target.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release may contain certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For further information please consult the Company’s website at:
www.promisneurosciences.com
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SOURCE ProMIS Neurosciences Inc.
