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– Dr. Levy
is a well-established neuroimmunologist
with in depth expertise and experience within the space of neuroimmunology, autoimmune and CNS problems
–
Firm continues to advance growth of its AIM Biologicals pre-clinical program, in search of to develop a
potential remedy possibility for NMOSD, an orphan indication with sturdy unmet medical want and important market alternative
CHARLESTON, S.C., June 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZS) (“Aeterna” or the “Firm”), a specialty biopharmaceutical firm growing and commercializing a diversified portfolio of pharmaceutical and diagnostic merchandise, at present introduced it has engaged neuroimmunologist, Michael Levy, MD, PhD, Analysis Director of the Division of Neuroimmunology & Neuroinfectious Illness at Massachusetts Basic Hospital (“MGH”) as a scientific advisor to assist the event of the Firm’s focused, extremely particular immunosuppressive therapeutic proteins (“AIM Biologicals”) for the potential remedy of neuromyelitis optica spectrum dysfunction (“NMOSD”). Dr. Levy will present scientific assist and recommendation to Aeterna Zentaris within the area of inflammatory CNS problems, autoimmune illnesses of the nervous system, and NMOSD.
In January 2021, Aeterna Zentaris entered into an unique patent license settlement and analysis settlement with Julius-Maximilians-College of Wuerzburg, Germany (the “College”) for worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize AIM Biologicals for the potential remedy of NMOSD. The Firm is at present conducting in-vitro and in-vivo assessments to determine and characterize an AIM Biologicals-based growth candidate for the remedy of NMOSD and develop manufacturing course of for the chosen candidate.
“We’re happy to welcome Dr. Levy and to have his assist as we advance the event of this vital program ahead,” commented Dr. Klaus Paulini, Chief Government Officer of Aeterna. “We consider that the AIM Biologicals know-how has the potential to grow to be a breakthrough within the remedy of NMOSD and we’re desperate to unlock its full potential. The steerage and management that Dr. Levy, a worldwide main skilled on NMOSD, brings shall be a essential element as we work with the College to determine growth candidates for the AIM Biologicals program.”
Dr. Levy added, “Over the course of my tutorial and medical profession, I’ve studied uncommon neuroimmunological illnesses and devoted my work to understanding how the immune system and the nervous system work together to trigger illness. I’m excited to assist Aeterna Zentaris’ growth of AIM Biologicals and to probably provide a brand new remedy for NMOSD sufferers, the place there stays important unmet medical want.”
Dr. Levy can be an Affiliate Professor at Harvard Medical Faculty and Director of the Neuromyelitis Optica Clinic and Analysis Laboratory at MGH. He accomplished the MD/PhD program at Baylor School of Drugs (Houston, TX) with a deal with neuroscience. Dr. Levy accomplished his Johns Hopkins internship within the Osler Drugs program, residency within the Johns Hopkins Neurology program and a fellowship in Neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins College. In 2009, Dr. Levy was appointed to the school as Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins the place he began the Neuromyelitis Optica Clinic and Analysis Laboratory. In 2019 he moved to the Massachusetts Basic Hospital and Harvard Medical Faculty to develop the analysis program in neuroimmunology.
Clinically, Dr. Levy focuses on taking good care of sufferers with uncommon neuroimmunological illnesses together with neuromyelitis optica, transverse myelitis, MOG antibody illness, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and optic neuritis. Along with neuroimmunology clinics, Dr. Levy has a particular curiosity in sufferers with superficial siderosis of the central nervous system. Dr. Levy is the principal investigator on a number of medical research and drug trials for all of those situations.
About AIM Biologicals
AIM Biologicals make the most of a novel mechanism which is believed to display that peptide antigens offered on immunosuppressive MHC class I molecules can selectively and effectively induce antigen-specific tolerance. Based mostly on this mechanism, the focused immunosuppressive therapeutics are being designed as optimized soluble molecules with the objective that they could be tailored to selectively induce tolerance to varied autoantigens. Pre-clinical research performed by the College to date point out that tolerance induction seems to be achieved by way of selective elimination of antigen-specific immune effector cells and by way of induction of antigen-specific regulatory T cells from naïve T cells. AIM Biologicals thus have the potential to grow to be extremely particular and efficient but not personalised therapies of NMOSD.
For the remedy of NMOSD, it’s believed that the AIM Biologicals will current a particular antigen derived from the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4) loaded to soluble immunoregulatory HLA-G protein to selectively induce immunological tolerance within the central nervous system.
About Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Dysfunction (NMOSD)
NMOSD is an antibody mediated inflammatory central nervous system (“CNS”) dysfunction that impacts about one per million inhabitants per 12 months. NMOSD, also referred to as Devic illness, is a continual dysfunction of the mind and spinal wire dominated by irritation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) and of the spinal wire (myelitis). Typical signs embrace visible loss, muscle spasms, paraparesis, and incontinence. If left untreated, 50% of people with NMOSD shall be wheelchair sure and blind, and 30% could have died inside 5 years after the primary assault. The water channel protein AQP4 is extensively expressed within the mind, spinal wire, and optic nerves. Auto-antibodies directed in opposition to the AQP4 channel play an vital function within the pathogenesis of NMOSD.
At the moment there are solely three authorised medicines accessible for the remedy of NMOSD with the danger of the affected person contracting even critical infections. Aeterna Zentaris believes there stays a robust medical want to supply further therapeutic choices to NMOSD sufferers.
Within the U.S. and Europe there are at present roughly 10,000 to fifteen,000 sufferers residing with NMOSD. Of those the AQP4 antibody seropositive sufferers who symbolize about 80% of the NMOSD inhabitants are the focused sufferers for a possible remedy primarily based on the AIM Biologicals know-how.
About Aeterna Zentaris Inc.
Aeterna Zentaris is a specialty biopharmaceutical firm growing and commercializing a diversified portfolio of pharmaceutical and diagnostic merchandise centered on areas of serious unmet medical want. The Firm’s lead product, macimorelin (Macrilen™), is the primary and solely U.S. FDA and European Fee authorised oral check indicated for the prognosis of grownup development hormone deficiency (AGHD). The Firm is leveraging the medical success and compelling security profile of macimorelin to develop it for the prognosis of childhood-onset development hormone deficiency (CGHD) in collaboration with Novo Nordisk.
Aeterna Zentaris is devoted to the event of therapeutic property and has just lately taken steps to determine a rising preclinical pipeline to probably tackle unmet medical wants throughout numerous indications, together with neuromyelitis optica spectrum dysfunction (NMOSD), hypoparathyroidism and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig’s illness). Moreover, the Firm is growing an oral prophylactic bacterial vaccine in opposition to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
For extra data, please go to www.zentaris.com and join with the Firm on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Ahead-Wanting Statements
This press launch comprises statements that will represent forward-looking statements inside the that means of U.S. and Canadian securities laws and rules, and such statements are made pursuant to the safe-harbor provision of the U.S. Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Ahead-looking statements are regularly, however not all the time, recognized by phrases equivalent to “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “potential,” “attainable,” and comparable expressions. Such statements, primarily based as they’re on present expectations of administration, inherently contain quite a few dangers, uncertainties, and assumptions, recognized and unknown, lots of that are past our management. Ahead-looking statements on this press launch embrace, however aren’t restricted to, these referring to: Aeterna’s expectation with respect to the potential of the AIM Biologicals know-how underneath growth by the Firm, together with the potential to deal with NMOSD.
Ahead-looking statements contain recognized and unknown dangers and uncertainties, and different elements which can trigger the precise outcomes, efficiency or achievements said herein to be materially totally different from any future outcomes, efficiency or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking data. Such dangers and uncertainties embrace, amongst others, our our merchandise underneath growth might not be profitable or could not assist advancing the product to human medical trials; our potential to boost capital and acquire financing to proceed our at present deliberate operations; our now heavy dependence on the success of Macrilen™ (macimorelin) and associated out-licensing preparations and the continued availability of funds and sources to efficiently commercialize the product, together with our heavy reliance on the success of the License Settlement with Novo Nordisk; the worldwide instability as a result of international pandemic of COVID-19, and its unknown potential impact on our deliberate operations; our potential to enter into out-licensing, growth, manufacturing, advertising and marketing and distribution agreements with different pharmaceutical firms and preserve such agreements in impact. Buyers ought to seek the advice of our quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for extra data on dangers and uncertainties, together with these dangers mentioned in our Annual Report on Kind 40-F and annual data kind, underneath the caption “Threat Components”. Given the uncertainties and danger elements, readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to replace any such elements or to publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to mirror future outcomes, occasions or developments, except required to take action by a governmental authority or relevant regulation.
No securities regulatory authority has both authorised or disapproved of the contents of this information launch. The Toronto Inventory Alternate accepts no accountability for the adequacy or accuracy of this launch.
Investor Contact:
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JTC Staff
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