PharmAthene's Recombinant Butyrylcholinesterase (rBChE) May Play A Neuroprotective Role in Alzheimer's Disease
ANNAPOLIS, Md., April 9, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
PharmAthene, Inc. (AMEX:PIP) a biodefense company specializing in
the development and commercialization of medical countermeasures
against chemical and biological threats, announced today 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
www.PharmAthene.com.
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.
Source: PharmAthene, Inc.
CONTACT: Stacey Jurchison, Director, Corporate Communications
of
PharmAthene, Inc., +1-410-269-2610, Cell: +1-410-474-8200,
JurchisonS@PharmAthene.com
Web site: http://www.pharmathene.com/
Posted: April 2008
