- Platform Predicts Novel Therapeutic and Diagnostic Targets -
Amorfix Life Sciences (TSX:AMF), a company focused on treatments and diagnostics for misfolded protein diseases announces it has licensed the exclusive rights to the ProMIS(TM) target identification technology from the University of British Columbia (UBC), to predict novel Disease Specific Epitopes (DSE) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins.
"The ProMIS(TM) target identification technology is a breakthrough method to model virtually any protein and predict how it will misfold," said Dr. George Adams, CEO of Amorfix. "PROMIS(TM) has already been used to identify potential DSE's on three known target proteins likely to be misfolded in cancer and the development of novel immunotherapeutics and companion diagnostics for these diseases has begun."
ProMIS(TM) is an "in silico" rational selection approach that can be applied to any protein where the normal folding structure is at least partially known. There are 57,000 such protein structures currently available in public databases. Amorfix is also exploring partnerships with other companies to accelerate the development and expand its program to other proteins of interest.
The ProMIS(TM) target identification technology is the product of the collaborative efforts of UBC scientists Neil Cashman, Will Guest and Steven Plotkin. "Using this technology we plan to efficiently 'mine' the human structural proteome and identify abnormally exposed DSE domains to develop novel diagnostic disease markers and treatment targets", said Dr. Cashman, who is also the Chief Scientific Officer at Amorfix.
About Amorfix
Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. (TSX:AMF) is a theranostics company developing therapeutic products and diagnostic devices targeting misfolded diseases including neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. It has specific programs in vCJD, ALS and Alzheimer's Disease. Amorfix's proprietary Epitope Protection(TM) (EP) technology enables it to specifically identify very low levels of aggregated misfolded proteins (AMP) in a sample containing normal protein. Aggregated misfolded proteins are a common element of many brain-wasting diseases, and more recent evidence points to misfolded proteins being created in many cancers. Amorfix has shown antibodies and vaccines to misfolded proteins are therapeutic in preclinical animal models. Amorfix's lead programs are a diagnostic blood screening test for vCJD and a therapy for ALS.
This information release may contain 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.
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SOURCE: Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.
Dr. George Adams, President & Chief Executive Officer, Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd., Tel: (416) 847-6959, Fax: (416) 847-6899, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; James Parsons, Chief Financial Officer, Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd., Tel: (416) 847-6929, Fax: (416) 847-6899, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.