Vancouver, BC–(Business Wire)– biOasis Technologies Inc. (TSX:V.BTI) today announces test results from its Transcend therapeutic development program directed towards the delivery of targeted therapeutic compounds to the brain. The results demonstrate that Transcend can increase considerably the delivery of an anti-amyloid beta antibody (anti-A?) to the brain. Further to the work performed at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and announced by the company on November 1st, 2011, the brains of the subject animals were sent to the iCapture Centre (St Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC) for quantitative analysis by confocal microscopy. The analysis showed that Transcend successfully delivered greater than 4 fold more anti-A? into the brain when compared to anti-A? on its own. One of the challenges facing companies currently testing anti-A? antibodies in clinical trials for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is getting enough of the antibody to cross the blood-brain barrier and into the brain. The passive immunization of AD patients using antibodies directed at the A? peptide is a potential therapeutic strategy aimed at reducing amyloid plaques in the brain. The plaques, consisting of insoluble amyloid ? protein are thought to be responsible for the neuronal cell death and the associated cognitive impairment seen in AD patients. Approaches that can efficiently deliver these antibodies into the brain may be the key for their use in the treatment of AD.
“As we reported earlier, a number of pharmaceutical companies are in early and late stage clinical trials studying anti-A? antibodies as potential treatments for AD. biOasis has shown over the past several months that its Transcend Vector can deliver antibodies such as anti-A? (reported here), Herceptin?1, and other large and small molecules across the blood-brain barrier to achieve higher concentrations than those seen with the effector molecules on their own” said Rob Hutchison, CEO. “Through the use of confocal microscopic imaging, we have been able to quantify the increase in brain penetration using Transcend. In the case of the anti-A? antibody, we showed two observations at a 2 hour time point; 1) the amount of the injected dose that reached the brain capillary network was 6 times that of the anti-A? antibody on its own and 2) the amount of Transcend-anti-A? antibody conjugate that crossed the Blood-Brain Barrier and entered the brain tissue was greater than four (4) fold over that seen with the anti-A? antibody on its own. If indeed anti-A? antibodies can provide a treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease, our Transcend Vector may play a key role in facilitating the delivery of these antibodies and potentially contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to treating AD.”
ABOUT TRANSCEND
biOasis is developing a proprietary carrier for the transport of therapeutic and imaging agents across the blood-brain barrier – Transcend. Current initiatives within the Transcend program include production of materials for preclinical studies and conjugation to a range of small molecule and biologic therapeutics. Overcoming the difficulty of delivering therapeutic agents to specific regions of the brain presents a major challenge to treatment of most brain disorders. In its neuroprotective role, the blood?brain barrier functions to hinder the delivery of many potentially important diagnostic and therapeutic agents to the brain. Therapeutic molecules and genes that might otherwise be effective in diagnosis and therapy do not cross the BBB in adequate amounts. It is widely reported that over 95% of all Therapeutic molecules do not cross the blood-brain barrier. To address the unmet clinical need to transport drugs across the blood brain barrier biOasis intends to license Transcend to multiple corporate partners.
1. Herceptin? is a registered trademark of Genentech
ABOUT BIOASIS:
biOasis Technologies Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of products for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases and disorders. Its products and technologies are intended for use within the healthcare and life science research markets. The Company is currently developing Transcend, a proprietary molecular carrier intended to transport drugs across the Blood-Brain Barrier for treatment of a wide range of neurological, oncological and infectious disease applications. biOasis is also developing Cognitest, a blood test to potentially aid clinicians in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Forward Looking Statements
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On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Robin Hutchison Chairman & CEO
778.383.3280
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