SUNNYVALE, Calif. & ALACHUA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCBB:AMBS), a biotechnology company developing MANF, a first-in-class disease–modifying therapeutic protein and Banyan Biomarkers, the leader in developing in vitro diagnostic products to detect traumatic brain injury (TBI), today announced a collaboration agreement to evaluate MANF’s potential as a disease-modifying agent for the treatment of TBI.
“TBI, often referred to as concussions, are the result of devastating acute blows to the head as are typically seen in contact sports or on the battlefield in military settings,” said Gerald Commissiong, President & CEO of Amarantus. “Given my football background, I am hopeful that MANF will prove effective in treating these injuries and believe that this area of research could become an important part of Amarantus’ overall strategy going forward.”
For Amarantus, targeting TBI utilizes the Company’s expertise in Central Nervous System disorders to broaden the potential applications of MANF. It also supports the Company’s strategy to pursue areas where its therapeutics can be paired with diagnostics to expand the utility and adoption of its product candidates.
“MANF appears to have a profile of activity in cerebral ischemia that is consistent with a potential therapeutic benefit in Traumatic Brain Injury,” said Dr. Andreas Jeromin, PhD, Director of Business Development and Assay Core Services at Banyan, “We are hopeful to be able to pair potential therapeutic treatments such as MANF alongside our groundbreaking diagnostic test going forward. This study will also utilize novel biomarkers of neurotoxicity developed by Banyan to assess drug safety.”
About MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor)
MANF (Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of apoptosis (cell death). This property provides a compelling rationale for the research and development of MANF-based products as therapeutics for human disease. The lead MANF product development effort is centered on a therapy for Parkinson's disease, currently funded by a research grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The Company also owns an inventory of 88 cell lines referred to as “PhenoGuard Cell Lines.” MANF was the first therapeutic protein discovered from a PhenoGuard Cell Line. It is anticipated that additional therapeutic proteins useful for various therapeutic approaches to the Central Nervous System (CNS) will be identified from the Company’s inventory of PhenoGuard Cell Lines.
About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.
Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is a California-based development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008. The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat Parkinson’s disease and other human diseases. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor ("MANF"). For further information please visit www.amarantus.com.
About Banyan Biomarkers
Banyan Biomarkers is the leader in developing in vitro diagnostic products to address unmet clinical needs for the detection of traumatic brain injury. The Company is focused on developing a simple point-of-care blood test that will be used by physicians to detect the presence and severity of brain trauma and improve the medical management of head injured patients. Banyan Biomarkers has a licensing agreement with the University of Florida for exclusive global use of technology related to this product. To learn more about Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., visit http://www.banyanbio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications and/or advantages presented by Amarantus’ PhenoGuard technology, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus' new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus' new product candidates, including those identified under "Risk Factors" in Amarantus' most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.