biOasis Releases Quantitative Results: siRNA-Transcendpep Reduces Target Gene Expression in the Brain
The Ability to Deliver siRNAs to the Brain Represents a Major Advancement in the Potential Treatment of CNS Disorders by Modifying Expression of Disease-Causing Genes - Results from initial experiments show modification of gene expression by 40% to 50%
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - July 25, 2014) - BIOASIS TECHNOLOGIES INC. (TSX VENTURE:BTI)(OTCQX:BIOAF), a pioneering biopharmaceutical company focused on overcoming the limitations of therapeutic drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), announced on May 6(th) , 2014, that its newly discovered carrier peptide-Transcend(pep) -effectively delivered siRNA across the BBB and into brain cells. The company announces that it has achieved effective knock-down of the expression of a target gene in the brain in a sequence-specific manner. Independent analysis of brain tissue revealed that, not only did Transcend(pep) deliver the siRNA to the brain tissue, but it also reduced the expression of the target gene by 40% to 50% after a single dose.
"Injection of a small bioconjugate of siRNA coupled to Transcend(pep) achieved a significant reduction in target gene expression in the brain, " says Dr. Wilfred Jefferies, Founding Scientist of biOasis. "This represents a potential advancement for reducing disease-associated gene expression that often leads to the pathology present in a variety of brain diseases."
"These findings expand the preeminent standing of biOasis in the area of BBB carriers and provides vast opportunities for Transcend(pep) to act as a platform to significantly advance the treatment of brain diseases," says Rob Hutchison, CEO. "Due to the vast market potential of siRNA delivery to the brain, we are focused on advancing this program to the IND stage and commencing Phase I Clinical Trials as soon as possible. This adds to biOasis' development programs in the delivery of therapeutics across the BBB, which includes our metabolic disease programs for lysosomal storage diseases such as Hunter Syndrome and Sandhoff Disease and our oncology program (Transcend(pep) -Herceptin(c)) for the treatment of brain metastases of HER2+ breast cancer. In addition to the aforementioned programs, we continue to further our partnership with MedImmune and develop relationships with other pharmaceutical companies."
About Transcend & Transcend(pep)
Transcend and Transcend(pep) are 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 permeate the BBB offers the opportunity for clinically approved drugs nearing the end of their patent life, extending their intellectual property.
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.