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March 27, 2013, 7:30 a.m. EDT
Amarantus BioScience Reports Positive MANF Data in Neuroprotection Animal Models of Parkinson's Disease
Company's proprietary therapeutic appears to protect key dopamine-producing brain function

Amarantus BioScience, Inc. (otcqb:AMBS), a biotechnology company discovering and developing treatments and diagnostics for diseases associated with neurodegeneration and apoptosis, today reported positive preclinical data for its lead therapeutic MANF in neuroprotection 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat models of Parkinson's disease. The data show that MANF protects the integrity of dopamine producing neurites in the striatum...

In the neuroprotection study, MANF was delivered into the substantia nigra shortly before injection of the toxin 6-OHDA into the striatum. Four weeks later the animals were sacrificed and the density of dopaminergic neuron projections in the striatum was determined. The protection of neuron health, as measured by the density of neurite terminals, was evident in all three areas of the striatum examined. The effects of a single MANF treatment were evident after four weeks, indicating the effects of MANF protection are sustained. Furthermore, the highest level of neurite density was found at the highest dosage of MANF. Importantly, the neurite density measured under treatment with MANF was statistically significantly better than shown for both vehicle control and a standard dosage of Glial cell-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF). GDNF is currently in clinical trials for Parkinson's disease and considered the current benchmark in the field. The data summarized here suggests that MANF may have advantages over GDNF for the clinical treatment of Parkinson's disease...

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ama...ase-2013-03-27