ProMIS Neurosciences initiates groundbreaking Cohort Study to evaluate prevalence of different Amyloid beta prion strains in Alzheimer's disease

Results could pave the way for precision medicine treatment of Alzheimer's

TSX: PMN

TORONTO, Nov. 8, 2016 /CNW/ - ProMIS Neurosciences ("ProMIS" or the "Company"), a company focused on discovery and development of precision treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced initiation of a Cohort Study to evaluate the prevalence of different strains of Amyloid beta (Ab) prions in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The first results of the Cohort Study are anticipated in Q1 2017.   

"The Cohort Study will use ProMIS's five recently validated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to detect specific prion targets (epitopes) in samples from AD patients," stated ProMIS CSO Dr. Neil Cashman. "To our knowledge, this is the first program aimed at generating a broad dataset to assess the prevalence of different Aβ prion strains in AD patients".

The Cohort Study is being conducted in the laboratories of ProMIS CSO, Dr. Neil Cashman. The study will use cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from more than 100 patients with dementia, collected over an eight-year period by Dr. Robin Hsiung, Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of British Columbia. The detailed clinical and laboratory data accompanying some of the samples may also lead to the identification of prion strains associated with more rapid disease progression and/or more prevalent in certain patient subgroups.

"This revolutionary Cohort Study may provide important evidence supporting a critical role for our antibodies in AD," stated ProMIS Executive Chairman, Eugene Williams. "First, detection of prion targets in CSF samples using our specific mAbs may not only allow to confirm diagnosis of AD but also to determine what subgroup of AD is present, based on which Ab prion targets are detected. Second, these mAbs, after humanization and scale-up, could offer the greatest chance for effective treatment specifically targeted to these subgroups of AD patients, and ultimately may lead to their use for prevention of disease."

As results of the Cohort Study emerge, the Company plans to pursue multiple research collaborations to further support its precision medicine approach to AD. ProMIS is also evaluating the feasibility and development of a blood-based detection method, which would enable broad screening of patients at risk or suspected of having AD.

Commenting on the Company's program, Mara Aspinall, a recognized expert in precision medicine and member of the ProMIS Business Advisory Board, stated: "Alzheimer's Disease has all the hallmarks for the next breakthrough in personalized medicine – a complex disease with variable presentation and prognosis.  ProMIS insights and anticipated outcomes of the Cohort Study could represent an important, fundamental shift in our approach to precision diagnosis and treatment of AD."

About ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc.

The mission of ProMIS Neurosciences is to discover and develop precision medicine therapeutics for effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease and ALS.

ProMIS Neurosciences' proprietary target discovery engine is based on the use of two, complementary techniques. The Company applies its thermodynamic, computational discovery platform—ProMIS^™ and Collective Coordinates — to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique "precision medicine" approach, ProMIS Neurosciences aims to develop novel antibody therapeutics and specific companion diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease and ALS. The company has also developed two proprietary technologies to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample. In addition, ProMIS Neurosciences owns a portfolio of therapeutic and diagnostic patents relating to misfolded SOD1 in ALS, and currently has a preclinical monoclonal antibody therapeutic against this target.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 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.

For further information please consult the Company's website at:
www.promisneurosciences.com

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SOURCE ProMIS Neurosciences Inc.

NATIONAL Equicom: Michael Moore, Tel. [phone], [email protected]; Abby Garfunkel, Tel. [phone], [email protected]; or contact Dr. Elliot Goldstein, President and Chief Executive Officer, ProMIS Neurosciences Inc., Tel. [phone], [email protected]