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biOasis Releases Results From an Ischemic Stroke Model with Transcend BBB Carrier Peptide (MTfp):MTfp-siRNA Reduces Both the Damage Caused by Infarct and Significantly Improves Neurological Score
- The Ability to Deliver siRNAs to the Brain Represents a Major Potential Advancement for Treatment of CNS Disorders by Modifying Expression of Disease-Causing Genes - Results are announced from a well-established animal ischemic stroke model performed at the National Research Council Canada with the biOasis Transcend carrier peptide, MTfp and siRNA (MTfp-siRNA) - Two KEY therapeutic effects were shown with MTfp-siRNA: High degree of reduction of the area of blood vessel infarct and improvement of overall brain activity as determined by neurological scoring.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - March 16, 2015) - BIOASIS TECHNOLOGIES INC. (TSX VENTURE:BTI)(BIOAF), a pioneering biopharmaceutical company focused on overcoming the limitations of therapeutic drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), announces the results from an animal ischemic stroke model performed at the National Research Council Canada with the biOasis Transcend carrier peptide, MTfp and siRNA (MTfp-siRNA). Two key therapeutic effects were shown with MTfp-siRNA; A high degree of reduction of the area of blood vessel infarct and improvement of overall brain activity as determined by neurological scoring.
On July 25th, 2014, biOasis announced that its newly discovered carrier peptide (MTfp), part of the biOasis Transcend family of carrier technologies, effectively delivered siRNA across the BBB and into brain cells. The company also announced that it achieved the goal of silencing the expression of a selected target gene in the brain by approximately 50%. This study prompted the company to move to a model of disease where therapeutic effects could be measured.
Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke in humans and an animal model that mimics stroke was chosen to establish the effectiveness of MTfp-siRNA treatment administered immediately prior to induction of ischemic stroke.
Key Findings of Ischemic Stroke Model Treated with MTfp-siRNA:
(1) The area of infarct (damage) was highly reduced in the animals treated with MTfp-siRNA. Brain images revealed significantly less stroke damage in brain sections from animals treated with the MTfp-siRNA when compared to the same brain regions in the control animals. The brain section images may be viewed on the biOasis website at http://www.bioasis.ca/press-releases/. The images show that there is more stroke damage (white areas) in the five sections from control animals (Left Panel) when compared to the same brain regions in the animals with stroke treated with the MTfp-siRNA (Right Panel).
(2) Thirty-minutes after induction of stroke, the neurological scores of the animals treated with the MTfp-siRNA were significantly better than those of control animals. At 24 hours, controls animals demonstrated a slight improvement in neurological scores while MTfp-siRNA treated animals showed a vast improvement and exhibited nearly normal neurological scores.
"The results clearly demonstrate that in an established animal model of stroke, therapeutic levels of siRNA that down-regulate the expression of a key pathogenic gene were successfully delivered by MTfp to the brain, resulting in a significant reduction of infarct damage and improvement of neurological scores associated with healthy brain function," said Dr. Wilfred Jefferies, biOasis Founding Scientist.
CEO Rob Hutchison added, "biOasis is the first company to show delivery of siRNAs to the brain of living animals. Our findings open the way to development of new strategies for therapeutic interventions for a variety of brain disorders."
About Transcend
Transcend is biOasis' proprietary platform for the delivery of therapeutics across the BBB to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of metastatic brain cancers as well as neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. The BBB represents the single greatest challenge in treating neurological disorders. The ability to effectively and safely breech the BBB offers the opportunity for biOasis to deliver therapeutics into the brain. Transcend was originally based on MTf (melanotransferrin or P97) where the full-length protein was conjugated to therapeutic molecules. Recently biOasis identified a family of peptides within MTf that facilitates receptor mediated transcytosis. The lead peptide carrier was used in the work reported above.
About biOasis
biOasis Technologies Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada focused on overcoming the limitations of therapeutic drug delivery across the BBB. The company is developing and commercializing a proprietary brain delivery technology to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of central nervous system disorders. biOasis trades on the OTCQX under the symbol "BIOAF" and on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "BTI". For more information about the company please visit www.bioasis.ca.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "believe", "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect" and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, events or developments, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, events or developments express or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such factors include, among others, our stage of development, lack of any product revenues, additional capital requirements, risk associated with the completion of clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to market our products, the ability to protect our intellectual property, dependence on collaborative partners and the prospects for negotiating additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements and their timing. Specifically, certain risks and uncertainties that could cause such actual events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from any future events or results expressed or implied by such statements and information include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties that: products that we develop may not succeed in preclinical or clinical trials, or future products in our targeted corporate objectives; our future operating results are uncertain and likely to fluctuate; we may not be able to raise additional capital; we may not be successful in establishing additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements; we may not be able to establish marketing and the costs of launching our products may be greater than anticipated; we have no experience in commercial manufacturing; we may face unknown risks related to intellectual property matters; we face increased competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and other factors as described in detail in our filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are based on our current expectations and we undertake no obligation to revise or update such forward- looking statements and information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Rob Hutchison, Chairman & CEO
"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release"
