TORONTO and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (TSX: PMN) (OTCQB: ARFXF), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the identification of several monoclonal antibody (mAb) drug candidates that selectively target toxic forms of the protein alpha-synuclein, considered to be a root cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD).
“We used our proprietary discovery platform to generate several antibody drug candidates for Parkinson’s disease that precisely target only the toxic forms of alpha-synuclein,” stated Dr. James Kupiec, ProMIS Chief Medical Officer. “Selectivity represents the essential feature of a successful antibody therapy, for it is critical that treatment not hinder normal forms of alpha-synuclein that play an important functional role in the brain. In preclinical studies, ProMIS antibody candidates showed a high degree of selectivity for only the toxic forms of alpha-synuclein in a side-by-side comparison with other alpha-synuclein targeting antibodies that are currently in development.”
Scientific studies indicate that toxic oligomers and small soluble fibrils, derived from naturally occurring alpha-synuclein, are the root cause of disease development and progression in PD. Preclinical in vitro studies show that the company’s antibody candidates for PD block both the neurotoxicity and the spreading (propagation) of toxic alpha-synuclein, while demonstrating a high degree of binding to the toxic forms of alpha-synuclein without binding to non-toxic or physiologically essential forms of alpha-synuclein protein.
Traditional methods are unable to generate antibodies with adequate precision to selectively target these neurotoxic forms. ProMIS Neurosciences has created a novel, proprietary method for discovering and developing antibodies that can uniquely and precisely target these specific toxic forms. The company is using its novel discovery and development platform—and inviting partners to leverage its value—to attack PD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
About ProMIS Neurosciences ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. is a development stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody therapeutics selectively targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Company’s proprietary target discovery platform is based on the use of two complementary thermodynamic, computational discovery engines -ProMIS and Collective Coordinates – to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique precision approach, the Company is developing novel antibody therapeutics for AD, ALS and PD. ProMIS is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ProMIS is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PMN, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol ARFXF.
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The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release contains certain forward-looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
