SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 27, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:AMBS) a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics related to neurodegeneration and apoptosis, today announced the publication of two new independent peer-reviewed publications on its patented biologic MANF. The publications from research groups in Europe and Asia focused on furthering the scientific community's understanding of how MANF is upregulated and secreted in models of cell biology and orphan diseases.
"This year has been a pivotal year for MANF in terms of gaining widespread recognition in the international scientific community as a molecule of great interest in the cellular response involving the endoplasmic reticulum that protects against protein misfolding and aggregation, processes centrally involved in a wide number of diseases," said Gerald E. Commissiong, President & CEO of Amarantus. "When MANF was first discovered within the context of treating Parkinson's disease, we never dreamed that it would turn out to be such a vitally important molecule in such a broad range of biological conditions related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress response (ERSR) and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Yet here we sit today, with research groups from 6 different countries around the world having published converging results in over 40 independent peer-reviewed publications, all indicating that MANF plays a critical role in potentially mediating disease biology in a wide range of medical conditions. Amarantus is in the unique position, due to our patent position, of having the ability to exploit MANF's potential in any number of directions to the benefit of patients and shareholders."
In the research paper entitled "Armet/Manf and Creld2 are Components of a Specialized ER Stress Response Provoked by Inappropriate Formation of Disulphide Bonds: Implications for Genetic Skeletal Diseases" published in the scientific journal Human Molecular Genetics from researchers at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, at The University of Manchester, UK, the research group of Michael Briggs and coworkers concluded: "We demonstrate that Armet (MANF) and Creld2 are genotype-specific ER stress response proteins with substrate specificities, and that aggregation of mutant matrilin-3 is a key disease trigger in MED (multiple epiphyseal dysplasia) that could be exploited as a potential therapeutic target." MED, also known as Fairbanks diseases, is a rare genetic disorder which affects the growing ends of bones. A web link to the research paper is available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23956175 .
In the research paper entitled "Transcriptional Regulation of Mouse Mesencephalic Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Neuro2a Cells" published in the scientific journal Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters by researchers from the Department of Biomolecular Science and the United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences at the University of Gifu in Japan, the research group of Kentaro Oh-Hashi concluded: "Our study is the first to show the efficiency of ER stress-related transcription factors for ERSE-II in activating the transcription of the mouse MANF gene in Neuro2a cells." Neuro2a cells are most notably used as models of neurological and prion disease. A web link to the research paper is available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23864333 .
Amarantus has been awarded composition of matter patents in the United States and Europe covering MANF. The Company has also filed a number of continuations and pending patent applications for MANF. In 2012, Amarantus won a challenge to its European composition of matter patents against a private European-based biotechnology company. The Company is planning to reprioritize its therapeutic pipeline to identify the most viable near-term market opportunity based on studies currently ongoing with MANF in various orphan indications through its research grant from the Center of Excellence of Apoptosis Research in Massachusetts awarded in late 2012. The first orphan indication identified for MANF is in Retinitis Pigmentosa, an ophthalmological condition with no current effective therapy that results in rod and cone degeneration in the eye affecting roughly 100,000 people in the US, 100,000 people in Europe and 50,000 people in Japan, representing a potential market estimated at $10 billion.
About Amarantus
Amarantus is a 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 and/or diagnose Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other human diseases. The Company has an exclusive worldwide license to the Lymphocyte Proliferation test ("LymPro Test®") 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. The Company also is a Founding Member of the Coalition for Concussion Treatment (#C4CT), a movement initiated in collaboration with Brewer Sports International seeking to raise awareness of new treatments in development for concussions and nervous-system disorders. The Company also owns intellectual property for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease ("NuroPro") and the discovery of neurotrophic factors ("PhenoGuard"). For further information please visit www.Amarantus.com, or connect with the Company on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+.