Monday, December 12, 2011

AMBS - Amarantus BioSciences




Amarantus Therapeutics

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About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.,(OTCBB: AMBS) formerly Jumpkicks, Inc., is a development-stage biotechnology company. The Company focuses on developing its intellectual property and technology to develop drug candidates to treat human disease. The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein, the Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor (MANF). On May 25, 2011, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Amarantus Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation (Amarantus), and Amarantus Therapeutics, Inc., formerly JKIK Acquisition Corp. (Acquisition Sub), which is its newly formed wholly owned Delaware subsidiary. On May 25, 2011, in connection with the closing of this merger transaction, Amarantus merged with and into Amarantus Therapeutics, Inc. (the Merger). The Company focuses to carry on the business of Amarantus as its sole line of business.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is engaged in the research and development of first-in-class disease-modifying treatments that address the underlying cause of cell death, known as apoptosis, associated with a wide range of diseases. The Company's most advanced product candidate,
MANF, is a therapeutic protein indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and Myocardial Infarction. Currently incubating at the Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale, CA.

Amarantus BioSciences is the recipient of a research grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

See www.Amarantus.com.

Amarantus BioSciences , a California-based biotechnology company developing a first-in-class anti-apoptosis therapeutic protein known as MANF, and Generex Biotechnology, Inc. (OTCBB: GNBT), a Toronto-based biotechnology company developing an oral-insulin spray technology known as Oral-lyn(TM) currently in Phase III clinical trials, today announced that the companies have selected the development of a MANF-based therapeutic for the treatment of the beta cell destruction at the root of diabetes as the second program for their joint research collaboration announced on May 31, 2011. The first collaboration program announced on June 8, 2011 is for the development of a MANF-based diagnostic test to identify a sub-population at risk of developing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

"Taken together with the MANF-based early diabetes detection diagnostic, the potential therapeutic-diagnostic combination would represent a major step forward in the ability for physicians to manage the health of those persons most at risk of developing diabetes," said Dr. James Anderson, Senior Scientific Advisor and Director of Generex. "The development of a MANF-based therapeutic that would be administered using Generex' proprietary RapidMist(TM) technology, and potentially be used in combination with Oral-lyn(TM), would represent a significant, new competitive advantage over other therapeutic interventions currently being studied and dramatically increase convenience and patient well-being."

"MANF's profile of activity indicates that it has significant potential to impact the beta cell dysfunction at the root of impaired insulin secretion in patients leading to clinical diabetes," said Dr. John Commissiong, Chief Scientific Officer of Amarantus. "MANF's ability to correct protein misfolding and mitigate apoptosis may slow or prevent the progression of patients with beta cell dysfunction into full blown diabetes."

"The partnership with Generex will allow Amarantus to exploit its technologies in the field of diabetes through its wholly-owned subsidiary Amarantus MA," said Martin D. Cleary, Chairman & CEO of Amarantus. "These collaboration programs are a major step toward the validation of the enormous potential of the MANF platform that Amarantus is judiciously advancing for the treatment of the apoptosis associated with a wide range of human disorders, including pre-diabetes and diabetes."

"Given the recent positive preliminary results from our 084 and Prevoral trials with Oral-lyn(TM), we now believe we better understand the best use for our Oral-lyn(TM) product and feel it is appropriate to plan for a partnership that will add ground-breaking scientific research to support Generex's future pipeline of diabetes product candidates," said Dr. Gerald Bernstein, Vice President of Medical Affairs for Generex Biotechnology. "Today's announcement affirms our commitment to the potential of our RapidMist(TM) technology to successfully deliver protein drug candidates to treat diabetes."

About Generex Biotechnology Corporation

Generex is engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of drug delivery systems and technologies. Generex has developed a proprietary platform technology for the delivery of drugs into the human body through the oral cavity (with no deposit in the lungs). The Company's proprietary liquid formulations allow drugs typically administered by injection to be absorbed into the body by the lining of the inner mouth using the Company's proprietary RapidMist(TM) device. The Company's buccal insulin spray product, Generex Oral-lyn(TM) is in Phase III clinical trials at several sites around the world. Antigen Express, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Generex. The core platform technologies of Antigen Express comprise immunotherapeutic vaccines for the treatment of malignant, infectious, allergic, and autoimmune diseases. Antigen E
xpress has pioneered the use of specific CD4+ T helper stimulation in immunotherapy. One of its platform technologies relies on inhibition of expression of the Ii protein. Antigen Express scientists, and others, have shown clearly that suppression of expression of the Ii protein in cancer cells allows for potent stimulation of T helper cells and prevents the further growth of cancer cells. For more information, visit the Generex website at www.generex.com or the Antigen Express website at www.antigenexpress.com.


Scientific Publications

PhenoGuard Protein Discovery Engine

  1. Takeshima T, Johnston JM, Commissiong JW (1994) Mesencephalic type-1 astrocytes rescue dopaminergic neurons from death induced by derum-deprivation. J Neurosci 14: 4769-4779
  2. Panchision D., Martin-DeLeon P, Takeshima T, Johnston J, Shimoda K, Tsoulfas P, McKay R, Commissiong JW (1998). An immortalized Type-1 Astrocyte Origin of a Dopaminergic Neurotrophic Factor. J Mol Neurosci. 11-208-221
  3. Takeshima T., Shimoda K. Johnston J.M., Commissiong J. (1996). Standard methods to bioassay neurotrophic factors for dopaminergic neurons. J Neurosci Meth 67: 27-41

MANF

  1. Hellman U, Arumäe U, Yu L, Lindholm P, Peränen J, Saarma M, Permi P (2011) Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) has a unique mechanism to rescue apoptotic neurons . J Biol Chem 286:2675-2680.
  2. Glembotski CC (2010) Functions for the cardiomyokine, MANF, in cardioprotection, hypertrophy and heart failure. J Mol Cell Cardiology, In Press
  3. Hellman U, Peränen J, Saarma M, Permpanich B (2010) (1)H, (13)C and (15)N resonance assignments of the human mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor. Biomol NMR Assign 4:215-217.
  4. Airavaara M, Chiocco MJ, Howard DB, Zuchowski KL, Peränen J, Liu C, Fang S, Hoffer BJ, Wang Y, Harvey CA (2010) Widespread cortical expression of MANF by AAV serotype 7: Localization and protection against ischemic brain injury. Exp Neurol 225:104-113.
  5. Lindholm P, Saarma M (2010) Novel CDNF/MANF Family of Neurotrophic Factors. Dev Neurobiol 70:360-371.
  6. Voutilainen M, Back S, Porsti E., Toppinen L, Lindgren L, Lindholm P, Peranen J, Saarma M and Tuominen R (2009). Mesencephalic Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor is Neurorestorative in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease. J Neurosci, July 29, 2009. 29(30):9651–9659.
  7. Yong-Qiang Yu1, Lian-Cheng Liu1, Fa-Cai Wang2, Yan Liang2, Da-Qin Cha2, Jing-Jing Zhang2, Yu-Jun Shen2, Hai-Ping Wang2, Shengyun Fang2,3 and Yu-Xian Shen2 (2009). Induction profile of MANF/ARMET by cerebral ischemia and its implication for neuron protection, J CBFM Sept 23: 1–13
  8. Airavaara M, Shen H, Kuo C-C, Peränen J, Saarma M, Hoffer B, Wang Y (2009) Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor reduces ischemic brain injury and promotes behavioral recovery in rats. J Comp Neurol 515: 116-124.
  9. Parkash V, Lindholm P, Peranen J, Kalkkinen N, Oksanen E, Saarma M, Leppanen VM, Goldman A (2009). The structure of the conserved neurotrophic factors MANF and CDNF explains why they are bifunctional. Protein Engineering Design Selection 22: 233-24.
  10. Palgia M, Lindstrom R, Peranen J, T. Piepponen P, Saarma M, Tapio I. Heino TI (2009) Evidence that DmMANF is an invertebrate neurotrophic factor supporting dopaminergic neurons. PNAS 106: 2429–2434.
  11. Tadimalla A, Belmont PJ, Thuerauf DJ, Glassy MS, Martindale JJ, Gude N, Sussman MA, Glembotski CC (2008) Mesencephalic Astrocyte-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Is an Ischemia-Inducible Secreted Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Protein in the Heart. Cir Res 103: 1249-1258.
  12. Lindholm P, Andressoo J-O, Kalkkinen N, Kokaia Z, Lindvall O, Timmusk T, Peranen J, Saarma M (2008). MANF is widely expressed in mammalian tissues and differently regulated after ischemic and epileptic insults in rodent brain. Mol Cell Neurosci 39: 356-371
  13. Apostolou A, Shen Y, Liang Y, Lou Y, Fang S. (2008) Armet, a UPR-upregulated protein, inhibits cell proliferation and ER stress-induced cell death. Exp Cell Res 14: 2454-2467.
  14. Mizobuchi N, Hoseki J, Kubota H, Toyokuni Y, Nozaki K, Naitoh M, Koizumi A, Nagata K. (2007) ARMET is a Soluble ER Protein Induced by the Unfolded Protein Response via ERSE-II Element. Cell Struct Funct 32: 41-50.
  15. Zhou C, Xiao C, Commissiong JW, Krnjevic K, Ye JH. (2006) Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor enhances nigral [gamma]-aminobutyric acid release. NeuroReport 17: 293-297.
  16. Petrova PS, Raibekas A, Pevsner J, Vigo N, Anafi M, Moore MK, Peaire A, Shridhar V, Smith DI, Kelly J, Durocher Y, Commissiong JW. (2004) Discovering novel phenotype-selective neurotrophic factors to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Prog Brain Res 146: 168-183.
  17. Petrova PS, Raibekas A, Pevsner J, Vigo N, Anafi M, Moore MK, Peaire AE, Shridhar V, Smith DI, Kelly J, Durocher Y, Commissiong JW. (2003) MANF: a new mesencephalic, astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor with selectivity for dopaminergic neurons. J Mol Neurosci 20: 173-188.

Management Team

Gerald E. Commissiong

Gerald Commissiong

President & CEO

Mr. Commissiong was appointed President & CEO of Amarantus BioSciences in October 2011. In March 2011, Mr. Commissiong was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Amarantus, where his duties included strategic transactions, licensing, research collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, fund raising and investor relations. From August 2009 until March 2011, he served as Chief Business Officer where he was responsible for business development and corporate development. In 2008, Mr. Commissiong co-founded Amarantus with Dr. John Commissiong PhD and served as its President & CEO until August 2009. In that timeframe, Mr. Commissiong attracted seed capital, acquired the intellectual property rights to MANF and recruited scientific and executive talent to Amarantus to allow for the further development of the technologies. Mr. Commissiong has served as a Director of Amarantus since 2008. Prior to co-founding Amarantus, Mr. Commissiong played professional football for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. Mr. Commissiong received a B.Sc. in Management Science and Engineering with a focus Financial Decisions from Stanford University.

John W. Commissiong, PhD

John Commissiong

Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Commissiong has served as the Chief Scientific Officer and a Director of Amarantus since co-founding the company in 2009. From 2000 through 2008 Dr. Commissiong served as the CSO of Neurotrophics Inc & Prescient Neuropharma Inc. Dr. Commissiong has been focused on the discovery of novel neurotrophic factors for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases as well as understanding the fundamental underlying biology of protoplasmic type-1 astrocytes that secrete neurotrophic factors. He was Chief of the Neural Transplantation Unit, NINDS-NIH, from 1989-94 where his research focused on identifying therapeutic approaches to spinal cord injury. Dr. Commissiong was Head of the Neurotrophic Factors Group, NINDS-NIH, from 1994-97 where he focused on developing technologies to systematically identify novel neurotrophic factors with applications for specific Central Nervous System disorders. He co-founded Prescient Neuropharma in 1999, and discovered MANF in 2003. MANF is currently in preclinical development for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The work pioneered by Dr. Commissiong has led to significant advancements in the field of astrocyte-neuron biology. Dr. Commissiong believes that a fundamental understanding of astrocyte-neuron interactions in the Central Nervous System will lead to a new generation of therapies to treat brain-related disorders.

Dr. Commissiong did his Postdoctoral work in the Lab Preclin Pharmac, NIMH-NIH, concentrating on the application of quadrupole mass spectrometry in the analysis of neurotransmitters. He holds a Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from the University of Southampton, an M.Sc. in Biochemical Pharmacology from the University of Southampton, and a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from the University of the West Indies.

Marc E. Faerber

Marc Faerber

Controller / Chief Financial Officer Controller

Mr. Faerber has over thirty years of experience and over nineteen of those in life sciences. His experience has spanned Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, and everything in between. During the past ten years Mr. Faerber has been providing financial, business and advisory services to a broad base of start-up companies primarily in the fields of cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, diagnostics and biotechnology.

Mr. Faerber has extensive transactional experience, including considerable experience in establishing international organizations throughout Europe and parts of Asia, international technology licensing and distribution transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and numerous funding transactions, including an initial public offering as well as other international business structural issues. During Mr. Faerber’s career he has held various positions in finance and corporate management including CFO, CEO and Director. Mr. Faerber started his career working for KPMG, is a certified public accountant, and has a Bachelor of Sciences in Business Administration from Providence College.


Contact Us

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

c/o The Parkinson’s Institute

675 Almanor Ave.

Sunnyvale, CA 94085

info@amarantus.com

Ph: (408) 737-2734

Fax: (408) 852-4427


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