PharmAthene,
Inc. (Amex: PIP) a biodefense company specializing in the development and
commercialization of medical countermeasures against chemical and
biological threats, announced that scientists from the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, one of PharmAthene's collaboration partners, have
recently obtained new data suggesting that recombinant
butyrylcholinesterase (rBChE), a non-pegylated form of Protexia(R), may
have neuroprotective benefits.
Recent research conducted by Dr. Hermona Soreq and co-workers at the
Alexander Silberman Life Sciences Institute at The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, in collaboration with PharmAthene, examined the role of rBChE in
the prevention of amyloid plaques, which are believed to play a role in the
development of Alzheimer's disease.
"The role of amyloid plaques in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's
disease is well documented, and a number of approaches have been studied
which attempt to block their formation by interfering at critical stages in
this complex pathway," said Hermona Soreq, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular
Biology and Dean of Sciences at The Hebrew University. "Our preliminary
results are especially intriguing as they continue to suggest that rBChE is
effective not only in inhibiting plaque formation, but also in potentially
attenuating neurotoxicity. The accumulating data provide compelling
evidence that rBChE may serve as a natural protector against amyloid
toxicity. In view of the empirical evidence gathered to date, the role of
rBChE in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease merits closer scrutiny and
understanding."
Recent in vitro data have demonstrated that rBChE effectively blocked
the formation of amyloid fibrils, precursors to plaque formation in the
brain. These data were substantiated by transmission electron microscopy
studies, which showed that rBChE dramatically suppressed the formation of
fibrils, resulting in thinner and less branched filaments than would
normally occur in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
More recent studies have also demonstrated that this plaque inhibitory
activity is still active when peptide fragments of rBChE are used, rather
than the full length protein. This may be an advantage in developing a
product that can cross the blood brain barrier.
The formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease is theorized to
involve a structural transition of the amyloid beta peptide. New data
generated by Dr. Soreq corroborate earlier findings, and demonstrate that
both rBChE and its peptide fragments could disrupt amyloid beta
organization and potentially limit its neurotoxicity.
David P. Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer of PharmAthene
commented, "The early research is certainly intriguing. While we are still
a long way from understanding the utility of rBChE in patients with
Alzheimer's disease, our next steps will include studying rBChE in a
transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease to evaluate its ability to
inhibit or reduce amyloid plaque formation. If the results continue to be
encouraging, it may allow PharmAthene to expand applications of rBChE to
additional areas beyond organophosphorous nerve agent toxicity with
potentially important benefits to society. Importantly, this is consistent
with our strategy of developing dual-use applications for our biodefense
programs in other commercial markets."
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which is
estimated to affect more than 4.5 million Americans. One of the hallmarks
of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of excessive amyloid plaques in
areas of the brain that control memory and cognition. Amyloid multimers are
believed to be neurotoxic and interfere with the normal communication
between neurons. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the
accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain
may play an important role in the development and progression of
Alzheimer's disease.
The work conducted under the Alzheimer's research program is based on a
patent owned by Yissum (the technology transfer company of The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem), entitled "Human BChE Variants as Protectors from
Amyloid Diseases", which has been licensed to PharmAthene.
As part of the collaboration with Hebrew University, PharmAthene has an
exclusive, worldwide license to the application of rBChE and its
corresponding peptides for use in the field of Alzheimer's disease.
About Protexia(R): Recombinant Human Butyrylcholinesterase (rBChE)
Protexia is a pegylated form of recombinant human butyrylcholinesterase
(rBChE), a potent organophosphorous (OP) scavenger protein produced in the
milk of transgenic goats, which is being developed for use as a
prophylactic against acute organophosphorous (OP) nerve agent toxicity.
About Chemical Weapons
Organophosphorous nerve agents, or anti-cholinesterase agents, were
discovered in the 1930s following intensive research into new insecticides.
Their discovery represents the beginning of modern chemical warfare. These
agents cause toxicity by binding to and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, an
enzyme in the body that is essential for nervous system function, leading
to increases in acetylcholine and "cholinergic crisis" that can cause loss
of muscle control, respiratory failure, paralysis, convulsions, permanent
brain damage and eventually death.
These so-called nerve gases, which are actually all liquids at room
temperature, are lethal far more quickly and in far lower concentrations
than other classical chemical warfare agents such as vesicants, choking
agents and blood agents, and are effective both when inhaled and when
absorbed through the skin. Nerve agents can be classified as either
G-agents (sarin, soman, tabun) or V-agents (VX), both of which are
exceedingly toxic.
About PharmAthene, Inc.
PharmAthene (Amex: PIP) was formed to meet the critical needs of the
United States and its allies by developing and commercializing medical
countermeasures against biological and chemical weapons. PharmAthene's lead
programs include Valortim(TM) for the prevention and treatment of anthrax
infection and Protexia(R) for the prevention and treatment of morbidity and
mortality associated with exposure to chemical nerve agents. For more
information about PharmAthene, please visit PharmAthene.
About Yissum:
Yissum was founded in 1964 to protect the Hebrew University's
intellectual property and commercialise it. An estimated $1 billion in
annual sales are generated by products based on Hebrew University
technologies licensed out by Yissum. Ranked among the top technology
transfer companies in the world, Yissum has registered 5500 patents
covering 1600 inventions; licensed out 480 technologies and spun out 65
companies. Yissum's business partners span the globe and include companies
such as Novartis, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Intel, Teva and many
more.
Statement on Cautionary Factors
Except for the historical information presented herein, matters
discussed may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed
or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words
"potential"; "believe"; "anticipate"; "intend"; "plan"; "expect";
"estimate"; "could"; "may"; "should"; "could"; or similar statements are
forward-looking statements. PharmAthene disclaims, however, any intent or
obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Risks and
uncertainties include risk associated with the reliability of the results
of the studies relating to human safety and possible adverse effects
resulting from the administration of Protexia, unexpected funding delays,
unforeseen safety issues, unexpected determination that Protexia proves not
to be effective or capable of being marketed as a product, as well as risks
detailed from time to time in PharmAthene's public disclosure filings with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). There can be no
assurance that such development efforts will succeed or that other
developed products will receive required regulatory clearance, or that,
even if such regulatory clearance were received, such products would
ultimately achieve commercial success. Copies of PharmAthene's public
disclosure filings are available from its investor relations department.
Inc. (Amex: PIP) a biodefense company specializing in the development and
commercialization of medical countermeasures against chemical and
biological threats, announced that scientists from the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, one of PharmAthene's collaboration partners, have
recently obtained new data suggesting that recombinant
butyrylcholinesterase (rBChE), a non-pegylated form of Protexia(R), may
have neuroprotective benefits.
Recent research conducted by Dr. Hermona Soreq and co-workers at the
Alexander Silberman Life Sciences Institute at The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, in collaboration with PharmAthene, examined the role of rBChE in
the prevention of amyloid plaques, which are believed to play a role in the
development of Alzheimer's disease.
"The role of amyloid plaques in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's
disease is well documented, and a number of approaches have been studied
which attempt to block their formation by interfering at critical stages in
this complex pathway," said Hermona Soreq, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular
Biology and Dean of Sciences at The Hebrew University. "Our preliminary
results are especially intriguing as they continue to suggest that rBChE is
effective not only in inhibiting plaque formation, but also in potentially
attenuating neurotoxicity. The accumulating data provide compelling
evidence that rBChE may serve as a natural protector against amyloid
toxicity. In view of the empirical evidence gathered to date, the role of
rBChE in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease merits closer scrutiny and
understanding."
Recent in vitro data have demonstrated that rBChE effectively blocked
the formation of amyloid fibrils, precursors to plaque formation in the
brain. These data were substantiated by transmission electron microscopy
studies, which showed that rBChE dramatically suppressed the formation of
fibrils, resulting in thinner and less branched filaments than would
normally occur in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
More recent studies have also demonstrated that this plaque inhibitory
activity is still active when peptide fragments of rBChE are used, rather
than the full length protein. This may be an advantage in developing a
product that can cross the blood brain barrier.
The formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease is theorized to
involve a structural transition of the amyloid beta peptide. New data
generated by Dr. Soreq corroborate earlier findings, and demonstrate that
both rBChE and its peptide fragments could disrupt amyloid beta
organization and potentially limit its neurotoxicity.
David P. Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer of PharmAthene
commented, "The early research is certainly intriguing. While we are still
a long way from understanding the utility of rBChE in patients with
Alzheimer's disease, our next steps will include studying rBChE in a
transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease to evaluate its ability to
inhibit or reduce amyloid plaque formation. If the results continue to be
encouraging, it may allow PharmAthene to expand applications of rBChE to
additional areas beyond organophosphorous nerve agent toxicity with
potentially important benefits to society. Importantly, this is consistent
with our strategy of developing dual-use applications for our biodefense
programs in other commercial markets."
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which is
estimated to affect more than 4.5 million Americans. One of the hallmarks
of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of excessive amyloid plaques in
areas of the brain that control memory and cognition. Amyloid multimers are
believed to be neurotoxic and interfere with the normal communication
between neurons. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the
accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain
may play an important role in the development and progression of
Alzheimer's disease.
The work conducted under the Alzheimer's research program is based on a
patent owned by Yissum (the technology transfer company of The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem), entitled "Human BChE Variants as Protectors from
Amyloid Diseases", which has been licensed to PharmAthene.
As part of the collaboration with Hebrew University, PharmAthene has an
exclusive, worldwide license to the application of rBChE and its
corresponding peptides for use in the field of Alzheimer's disease.
About Protexia(R): Recombinant Human Butyrylcholinesterase (rBChE)
Protexia is a pegylated form of recombinant human butyrylcholinesterase
(rBChE), a potent organophosphorous (OP) scavenger protein produced in the
milk of transgenic goats, which is being developed for use as a
prophylactic against acute organophosphorous (OP) nerve agent toxicity.
About Chemical Weapons
Organophosphorous nerve agents, or anti-cholinesterase agents, were
discovered in the 1930s following intensive research into new insecticides.
Their discovery represents the beginning of modern chemical warfare. These
agents cause toxicity by binding to and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, an
enzyme in the body that is essential for nervous system function, leading
to increases in acetylcholine and "cholinergic crisis" that can cause loss
of muscle control, respiratory failure, paralysis, convulsions, permanent
brain damage and eventually death.
These so-called nerve gases, which are actually all liquids at room
temperature, are lethal far more quickly and in far lower concentrations
than other classical chemical warfare agents such as vesicants, choking
agents and blood agents, and are effective both when inhaled and when
absorbed through the skin. Nerve agents can be classified as either
G-agents (sarin, soman, tabun) or V-agents (VX), both of which are
exceedingly toxic.
About PharmAthene, Inc.
PharmAthene (Amex: PIP) was formed to meet the critical needs of the
United States and its allies by developing and commercializing medical
countermeasures against biological and chemical weapons. PharmAthene's lead
programs include Valortim(TM) for the prevention and treatment of anthrax
infection and Protexia(R) for the prevention and treatment of morbidity and
mortality associated with exposure to chemical nerve agents. For more
information about PharmAthene, please visit PharmAthene.
About Yissum:
Yissum was founded in 1964 to protect the Hebrew University's
intellectual property and commercialise it. An estimated $1 billion in
annual sales are generated by products based on Hebrew University
technologies licensed out by Yissum. Ranked among the top technology
transfer companies in the world, Yissum has registered 5500 patents
covering 1600 inventions; licensed out 480 technologies and spun out 65
companies. Yissum's business partners span the globe and include companies
such as Novartis, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Intel, Teva and many
more.
Statement on Cautionary Factors
Except for the historical information presented herein, matters
discussed may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed
or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words
"potential"; "believe"; "anticipate"; "intend"; "plan"; "expect";
"estimate"; "could"; "may"; "should"; "could"; or similar statements are
forward-looking statements. PharmAthene disclaims, however, any intent or
obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Risks and
uncertainties include risk associated with the reliability of the results
of the studies relating to human safety and possible adverse effects
resulting from the administration of Protexia, unexpected funding delays,
unforeseen safety issues, unexpected determination that Protexia proves not
to be effective or capable of being marketed as a product, as well as risks
detailed from time to time in PharmAthene's public disclosure filings with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). There can be no
assurance that such development efforts will succeed or that other
developed products will receive required regulatory clearance, or that,
even if such regulatory clearance were received, such products would
ultimately achieve commercial success. Copies of PharmAthene's public
disclosure filings are available from its investor relations department.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий