Amorfix Antibody Development Program for ALS to be Presented at Leading ALS Conference
TSX: AMF
TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. announced today that Dr. Neil Cashman, Amorfix Chief Scientific Officer and Company founder, is a lead presenter at today's 8th Annual ALS Therapy Development Institute's Leadership Summit being held in Boston, MA. He is providing a state-of-the-art overview of Amorfix's therapeutic SOD1 antibody program for the treatment of ALS.
Amorfix is a leader in ALS research and is committed to developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics for ALS. The Company has identified antibody targets against misfolded SOD1 for the treatment of ALS which have been licensed to Biogen Idec for the development of antibody therapeutics, and to Pan Provincial Vaccine Enterprise (PREVENT) for the development of vaccine applications. Both of these programs are advancing in preclinical development. In addition, the Company is developing a blood test to be used as a diagnostic tool for the early detection of ALS, based on the detection and measurement of misfolded SOD1 present in plasma.
About ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. People living with the disease become progressively paralyzed due to degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Eighty per cent of people with ALS die within two to five years of diagnosis; unable to breathe or swallow. Ten per cent of those affected may live for 10 years or longer
About Amorfix
Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. (TSX:AMF) is an early-stage product development company developing therapeutic antibodies and diagnostics targeting misfolded protein diseases. Amorfix utilizes its computational discovery platform, ProMIS™, to predict novel Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this technology, Amorfix is developing novel antibody therapeutics and companion diagnostics for cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, Amorfix has developed two proprietary technologies to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample: Epitope Protection™ and AMFIA™, an ultra-sensitive dual-bead immunoassay. Use of these technologies has generated a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) screening test for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and an ultrasensitive method for detecting the hallmark of AD, aggregated beta-Amyloid, in brain tissue, CSF and blood from animal models of AD. For more information about Amorfix, visit www.amorfix.com.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains certain forward-looking information, which 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, such as the commitments of potential subscribers that are not binding legal obligations, as well as other factors, that are subject to change. 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, unless required by law.
ProMIS™, Epitope Protection™ and AMFIA™ are trademarks of Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.
SOURCE: Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.
Please contact:
Dr. Robert Gundel
President and Chief Executive Officer
Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.
Tel: (416) 847-6957
Fax: (416) 847-6899
[email protected]
Janet Clennett
Chief Financial Officer
Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.
Tel: (416) 847-6926
Fax: (416) 847-6899
[email protected]
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