ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: RGRX) (“the Company” or “RegeneRx”) today reported new published data demonstrating that Thymosin beta 4 (TB4) can be used effectively to prevent or reduce heart failure. In a standard murine model of pulmonary hypertension (induced by a toxic plant alkaloid) that causes compensatory right heart hypertrophy, TB4 significantly reduced the systolic pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy when compared to animals that were not treated with TB4. This study was reported in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, OI:10.1371/journal.pone.0110598 November 20, 2014.
“Our data revealed for the first time that TB4 selectively targets the Notch3-Col 3A-CTGF gene axis in preventing plant alkaloid-induced pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy,” according to Dr. Sudhirajan Gupta, the senior author and researcher in the Division of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center in Temple, Texas.
“Our data revealed that inflammatory molecules which were triggered by the toxic plant alkaloid treatment were significantly reduced by TB4. Besides the anti-inflammatory effect, we demonstrated that TB4 also reversed the lung damage. Furthermore, the presence of significant fibrotic areas in the lungs of MCT-treated mice were observed in the untreated mice and significantly reduced in the TB4-treated mice. Together, our data underscore that treatment of TB4 attenuates inflammatory responses, reduces lung damage, and eventually restores right ventricular pressure,” Dr. Gupta stated.
“The study provides additional evidence that TB4 could be used as a vasculoprotective agent for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension-induced heart failure and confirms other independent studies showing the reduction of damage and improvement of function in both acute and sub-chronic cardiac models,” stated Allan L. Goldstein, Ph.D., RegeneRx’s chairman and chief scientific advisor.
The research conducted by the research group was performed under a Material Transfer Agreement between RegeneRx and Texas A&M University Health Science Center.
About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.regenerx.com)
RegeneRx is focused on the development of a novel therapeutic peptide, thymosin beta 4, for tissue and organ protection, repair and regeneration. RegeneRx currently is in clinical development of thymosin beta 4 for ophthalmic, cardiac, CNS and dermal indications, has strategic licensing agreements in China, the EU, and in other Pan Asia countries, including Korea, Japan and Australia, and has an extensive worldwide patent portfolio covering its products.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements concerning research and clinical development and future commercialization of the Company’s drug candidates. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can also be no assurance that any research undertaken by RegeneRx or its licensees or others will be commercially successful. Please view these and other risks described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including those identified in the “Risk Factors” section of the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings it makes with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update this information, as a result of future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
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SOURCE RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
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