MANF Therapeutics Announces
Publication of Positive Data for MANF in
Stroke Animal Model in AAAS Journal Science
Advances
New York, NY USA
-- June
05, 2018
-- InvestorsHub NewsWire -- MANF Therapeutics, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc.
(OTCPK:
AMBS) in pre-clinical development advancing the orphan-drug
designated therapeutic protein mesencephalic astrocyte-derived
neurotrophic factor (MANF) as a disease-modifying treatment for
orphan ophthalmological conditions, Glaucoma and Parkinson's
disease, today announced the publication of a scientific article
entitled "Poststroke
delivery of MANF promotes functional recovery in rats" in the
American Association for the Advancement of Science's (AAAS) open
access journal Science Advances that describes positive
effects of MANF in an animal model of post-stroke recovery. The
work was published by researchers at the National Institute of Drug
Abuse, the University of Helsinki and the Talinn University of
Technology.
The data demonstrated that
chronic delivery of human recombinant MANF (hrMANF) starting two
days after stroke-like injury in the distal middle cerebral artery
occlusion (dMCAo) rat model of ischemia-reperfusion injury resulted
in statistically significant improvement in functional outcomes at
each time points assessed (7 days, 14 days and 24 days
post-treatment). MANF also demonstrated efficacy in animal models
of other ischemia-reperfusion related conditions including retinal
artery occlusion (RAO), and myocardial
infarction (heart attack). MANF's emerging role as an
immunomodulatory protein further supports its
development as a potential treatment for stroke.
Stroke is the fifth
leading cause of death in the United States, where it is estimated
that over 800,000 people suffer from strokes annually. The global
stroke treatment and diagnostics market is expected to reach $31
billion by 2021, according to Zion research.
An effective therapy that could improve functional outcomes for
patients in response to a stroke event is expected to generate over
$3B in annual in sales. Based on the results of the study published
in Sciences Advances, MANF has the potential to be developed as a
treatment for post-stroke recovery.
MANF Therapeutics is
preparing to restart IND-enabling development of MANF in 2018,
initially in ophthalmology. MANF has therapeutic potential across
multiple orphan
ophthalmological conditions such as RAO and retinitis
pigmentosa, where MANF has already received orphan drug
designations from the FDA, as well as in larger indications such as
Glaucoma, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes and in cardiovascular
disease, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. MANF
Therapeutics is the front-runner and primary worldwide intellectual
property (IP) holder for MANF-based therapies including protein
therapy, gene therapy and cell therapy. The Company owns rights to
composition of matter patents for MANF and owns, or has licenses
to, method of use patents covering the use of MANF in
ophthalmology, neurology and diabetes.
ABSTRACT
Stroke is the most common
cause of adult disability in developed countries, largely because
spontaneous recovery is often incomplete, and no pharmacological
means to hasten the recovery exist. It was recently shown that
mesencephalic astrocytederived neurotrophic factor (MANF) induces
alternative or M2 activation of immune cells after retinal damage
in both fruit fly and mouse and mediates retinal repair. Therefore,
we set out to study whether poststroke MANF administration would
enhance brain tissue repair and affect behavioral recovery of rats
after cerebral ischemic injury. We used the distal middle cerebral
artery occlusion (dMCAo) model of ischemia-reperfusion injury and
administered MANF either as a recombinant protein or via
adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector. We discovered that, when MANF
was administered to the peri-infarct region 2 or 3 days after
stroke, it promoted functional recovery of the animals without
affecting the lesion volume. Further, AAV7-MANF treatment
transiently increased the number of phagocytic macrophages in the
subcortical peri-infarct regions. In addition, the analysis of
knockout mice revealed the neuroprotective effects of endogenous
MANF against ischemic injury, although endogenous MANF had no
effect on immune cellrelated gene expression. The beneficial effect
of MANF treatment on the reversal of stroke-induced behavioral
deficits implies that MANF-based therapies could be used for the
repair of brain tissue after stroke.
About
MANF Therapeutics, Inc.
MANF
(mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor) is believed
to have broad potential because it is a naturally-occurring protein
produced by the body to reduce/prevent apoptosis (cell death) in
response to injury or disease, via the unfolded protein response.
By administering exogenously produced MANF 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 around
MANF and is initially focusing on the development of MANF-based
protein therapeutics.
MANF's lead indication is
retinitis pigmentosa, and additional indications including
Parkinson's disease, diabetes and Wolfram's syndrome are
envisioned. Further applications for MANF may include Alzheimer's
disease, traumatic brain injury, myocardial infarction,
antibiotic-induced ototoxicity and certain other orphan
diseases.
In April 2017, Amarantus
incorporated the wholly-owned subsidiary MANF Therapeutics, Inc. to
focus on progressing preclinical and clinical development of
MANF.
About Amarantus
Bioscience Holdings, Inc.
Amarantus Bioscience
Holdings (AMBS) is a JLABS alumnus biotechnology company developing
treatments and diagnostics for diseases in the areas of neurology,
regenerative medicine and orphan diseases through its subsidiaries.
AMBS' wholly-owned subsidiary Elto Pharma, Inc. has
development rights to eltoprazine, a Phase 2b-ready small molecule
indicated for Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia,
Alzheimer's aggression and adult attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, commonly known as ADHD. AMBS acquired the rights to the
Engineered Skin Substitute program, a regenerative medicine-based
approach for treating severe burns with full-thickness autologous
skin grown in tissue culture that is being pursued by AMBS'
wholly-owned subsidiary Cutanogen Corporation. AMBS'
wholly-owned subsidiary MANF Therapeutics, Inc. owns key
intellectual property rights and licenses from a number of
prominent universities related to the development of the
therapeutic protein known as mesencephalic astrocyte-derived
neurotrophic factor ("MANF"). MANF Therapeutics, Inc.
is developing MANF-based products as treatments for brain and
ophthalmic disorders. MANF was discovered by the Company's Chief
Scientific Officer John Commissiong, PhD. Dr. Commissiong
discovered MANF from AMBS' proprietary discovery engine PhenoGuard.
The Company also re-acquired rights to the Alzheimer's blood
diagnostic LymPro Test , MSPrecise and NuroPro.
For further information
please visit www.Amarantus.com, or connect with the Amarantus on Facebook, LinkedIn,Twitter and Google+.
Amarantus
Investor and Media Contact:
Howard
Gostfrand
American Capital Ventures,
Inc.
Office:
305-918-7000
Email: hg@amcapventures.com
Source: Amarantus
Bioscience Holdings, Inc.