GLEN ALLEN, Va., Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Star Scientific, Inc. (NASDAQ: STSI) through its wholly owned subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals Inc., reports that scientists from its research partner, the Roskamp Institute, presented new research yesterday and today indicating that supplementation with anatabine, the active ingredient in the Company’s Anatabloc® dietary supplement, has the potential to alleviate the negative consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). These findings were presented during a press conference and also at a nanosymposium presentation at Neuroscience 2012, the 42nd annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, attended by more than 32,000 neuroscientists from around the world. Those scientists are gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana, this week to observe and participate in presentations relating to more than 16,000 new discoveries in science and health.
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On Sunday morning, Dr. Fiona Crawford, Associate Director and Vice President of the Roskamp Institute, was one of four presenters participating in a press conference titled,” 'Invisible’ Wounds: From Soldiers to Citizens”, which focused on traumatic brain injury research working to improve the lives of citizens and soldiers. In the press conference, Dr. Crawford described the Roskamp Institute’s larger traumatic brain injury research program and the Institute’s work investigating anatabine’s effect in laboratory models of TBI.
On Monday morning, Dr. Scott Ferguson, also of the Roskamp Institute, presented these data in a presentation titled, “TBI-Induced Spatial Memory Loss is Averted by Treatment with the Dietary Supplement Anatabine”. In this study, three groups of mice were studied: One group of TBI mice was treated with anatabine, while a second group of TBI mice was untreated. A third group was comprised of normal mice. The results of the study showed that the untreated TBI mice demonstrated memory impairment; whereas, the memory of anatabine treated TBI mice was the same as normal mice. The scientists at the Roskamp Institute hypothesize that the maintenance of normal memory in TBI mice treated with anatabine is due to an inhibition of inflammation. The presentation abstract notes: “Anatabine treatment appeared to completely prevent the loss of spatial memory retention following severe TBI.”
Dr. Crawford stated, “Further study of this promising treatment is warranted and will include evaluation in a mild closed head injury model as well as assessment of long term outcome from injury.” Dr. Michael Mullan, President and CEO of the Roskamp Institute, explained, “Dietary supplementation to prevent memory loss after head injury has a potentially rapid development path for human use.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1.7 million people in the United States experience TBI each year, with 80,000 survivors suffering long-term disability.
In addition to the TBI research, the Roskamp Institute presented results of its research examining the potential benefit of anatabine for alleviating symptoms associated with Multiple Sclerosis and will present new research on anatabine’s effect on Alzheimer’s Disease at the conference. For more information about the TBI study and the MS study, visit the Roskamp Institute’s website at: www.rfdn.org
Certain statements contained in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to statements identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “projects” and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, including the continued development and market acceptance of our nutraceutical and low-TSNA tobacco products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and/or regulation, including with respect to our nutraceutical and low-TSNA tobacco products, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement or any information contained in this press release or in other public disclosures at any time.
About Star Scientific
Star Scientific, Inc. is a technology-oriented company with a mission to promote maintenance of a healthy metabolism, as well as to reduce the harm associated with the use of tobacco at every level. Over the last several years, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, Star Scientific has been engaged in the manufacturing, sale, and marketing of two nutraceutical dietary supplements, and the development of other nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. The company also has continued to pursue the development, implementation, and licensing of the technology behind its proprietary StarCured® tobacco curing process, which substantially prevents the formation of carcinogenic toxins present in tobacco and tobacco smoke, primarily the tobacco-specific nitrosamines, or TSNAs and related low-TSNA dissolvable tobacco products. Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals has scientific and research offices in Gloucester, MA, and a regulatory office in Washington, DC. Star Scientific has a Corporate and Sales Office in Glen Allen, VA; Executive, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs offices in Bethesda, MD, and Washington, DC; and a manufacturing facility in Chase City, VA.
Contact:
Talhia T. Tuck
Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
Star Scientific, Inc.
(202)887-5100
ttuck@starscientific.com
SOURCE Star Scientific, Inc.
