Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:AMBS), a biotechnology
company focused on the discovery and development of novel
diagnostics and therapeutics related to endoplasmic reticulum
stress, cell cycle dysregulation, neurodegeneration and apoptosis,
today announced that it has updated its MANF publications list with
8 previously undisclosed independent peer-reviewed research papers.
The scientific articles include several Chinese publications as
well as new publications that have been released since the
beginning of 2014.
"The continual increase in publications on MANF speaks to the
uniqueness of MANF's activity and its ability to rescue cells
across a spectrum of protein misfolding-related disorders,"
commented David A. Lowe, PhD, member of the Amarantus Board of
Directors. "MANF is emerging as an especially interesting
scientific target, thereby increasing the value of the Company's
intellectual property and expanding its therapeutic potential
immensely."
Parkinson's disease: Building and expanding from a strong basis
of MANF literature in Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's
disease and Retinitis Pigmentosa, recent literature has further
strengthened the rational in Parkinson's disease (1) with an
independent confirmation of MANF's activity in the 6-OHDA model.
MANF's therapeutic effects have now been demonstrated by three
independent research groups across Europe, the United States and
China. Moreover, the involvement of MANF in the central nervous
system development (2) provides clues to further our understanding
of MANF's demonstrated regenerative activity in PD models.
New indications: MANF's neuroprotective activity was confirmed
in a model of stroke, together with a deeper understanding of its
anti-apoptotic mechanism of action involving the unfolded protein
response (3). A further expansion into the orphan space was enabled
by MANF's rescue activity in a genetic model of spinal cerebellar
ataxia 17 (4).
Mechanism-of- action: Academic research groups are increasingly
picking up research on MANF and advance our understanding of its
mechanism of action with important implications to clinical
development. Previously known effects of MANF on apoptosis are
understood at increasing level of detail (5) and MANF signaling is
started to being elucidated by demonstration of MANF-induced
activation of PKC signaling (4). Finally, protein engineering
studies continue to advance our understanding of the essential
elements of MANF's protein structure for its function (6).
Small molecule screens: Building on the body of work generated
with MANF as a therapeutic protein the expansion into small
molecule mimetics of MANF activity offers important new
opportunities, addressing MANF intracellular effects in response to
cellular stress. Tools are continuously being developed to enable
small molecule screens. Increasing the understanding of MANF
promoter function (7) and the example of a novel screening assay to
detect secreted MANF (8) will advance the search for MANF small
molecule mimetics.
1.) Wang Y. et al. (2012) Alleviation of neuronal damage by MANF
in rat model of Parkinson's disease. Acta Universitatis
Medicinalis Anhui 47(7).
2.) Wang H. et al. (2014) Spatiotemporal Expression of MANF in
the Developing Rat Brain. PLoS One 9(2):e90433.
3.) Yang W. et al. (2014) Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived
neurotrophic factor prevents neuron loss via inhibiting
ischemia-induced apoptosis. J Neurol Sci.
4.) Yang S et al. (2014) Age-Dependent Decrease in Chaperone
Activity Impairs MANF Expression, Leading to Purkinje Cell
Degeneration in Inducible SCA17 Mice. Neuron 81: 349-365.
5.) Chen et al. (2013) Protective effect of MANF on endoplasmic
reticulum stress-induced apoptosis. Acta Universitatis Medicinalis
Anhui 48(11):1308.
6.) Lindstrom R et al. (2013) Characterization of the Structural
and Functional Determinants of MANF/CDNF in Drosophila In Vivo
Model. PLoS One 8: e73928.
7.) Li Zhang, Peng Lu, Tao Wang, Yuxian Shen (2012) Cloning and
activity analysis of the promoter of MANF gene. Chinese
Pharmacological Bulletin 28(6).
8.) Norisada J, Hirata Y, Amaya F, Kiuchi K, Oh-Hashi K (2014) A
sensitive assay for the biosynthesis and secretion of MANF using
NanoLuc activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 449(4):483-489.
About Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic
Factor (MANF)
MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is
believed to have broad potential because it is a
naturally-occurring protein produced by the body for the purpose of
reducing and preventing apoptosis (cell death) in response to
injury or disease, via the unfolded protein response of the
endoplasmic reticulum. By manufacturing MANF and administering it
to the body, Amarantus is seeking to use a regenerative medicine
approach to assist the body with higher quantities of MANF when
needed. Amarantus is the front-runner and primary holder of
intellectual property (IP) around MANF, and is initially focusing
on the development of MANF-based protein therapeutics. MANF's
current lead indication is Retinitis Pigmentosa, and other
applications including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and
Wolfram's Syndrome. Additional applications for MANF may include
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), myocardial infarction,
antibiotic-induced ototoxicity and certain other rare orphan
diseases currently under evaluation.
About Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc.
Amarantus BioScience Holdings (AMBS) is a biotechnology company
developing treatments and diagnostics for diseases associated with
neurodegeneration and protein misfolding-related apoptosis. AMBS
has licensed Eltoprazine ("Eltoprazine"), a phase 2b ready small
molecule indicated for Parkinson's Levodopa induced dyskinesia and
Adult ADHD. AMBS has an exclusive worldwide license to the
Lymphocyte Proliferation test ("LymPro Test(R)") for Alzheimer's
disease and owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic
protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic
Factor ("MANF") and is developing MANF-based products as treatments
for brain disorders. AMBS also owns intellectual property for the
diagnosis of Parkinson's disease ("NuroPro") and the discovery of
neurotrophic factors ("PhenoGuard"). Amarantus operations are
located at Janssen Labs @QB3 in San Francisco, CA. For further
information please visit www.Amarantus.com, or connect with the
Company on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+.
Certain statements, other than purely historical information,
including estimates, projections, statements relating to our
business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the
assumptions upon which those statements are based, are
forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements
generally are identified by the words believes," project,"
expects," anticipates," estimates," intends," strategy," plan,"
may," will," would," will be," will continue," will likely result,"
and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially
from the forward-looking statements. Our ability to predict results
or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently
uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on
our operations and future prospects on a consolidated basis
include, but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions,
legislative/regulatory changes, availability of capital, interest
rates, competition, and generally accepted accounting principles.
These risks and uncertainties should also be considered in
evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not
be placed on such statements.
CONTACT: Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc.:
Aimee Boutcher, Investor Relations
408.737.2734 x 101
ir@amarantus.com
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