VivaCell Spain and Aphios USA to develop novel class of compounds for Multiple sclerosis and CNS disorders

Cordoba, Spain, 12-6-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — VivaCell Biotechnology España S.L., Cordoba, Spain today announced that it has entered into joint Research Collaboration and Commercialization Agreements with Aphios Corporation, USA, to develop therapeutics for multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative disease of the CNS, is one of the main causes of irreversible neurologic disability in young adults. MS is notoriously heterogeneous in terms of clinical manifestations and evolution. The disease affects more than 2 million people worldwide, of which an estimated 400,000 are in the US and 500,000 in Europe.  According to the Cleveland Clinic, MS-related health care costs are estimated to be over $10 billion per year in the United States.  While progress has been made on developing therapeutics for this debilitating disease, there is still a high unmet need for safe and cost-effective therapeutics that can efficiently cross the blood brain barrier.

Recently, researchers at the University of Córdoba and Cajal Institute (Spain) in collaboration with VivaCell Biotechnology, a Spanish-based biotech company, have discovered a novel class of non-psychotropic cannabinoids that has multiple activities on key molecular targets involved in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, with very positive in vitro and in vivo data (US and International Patents Pending).  Dr. Eduardo Muñoz, Chief Scientific Officer of VivaCell states, “In vitro experiments have demonstrated that these compounds activate the PPARy pathway and bind to CB2 receptor showing both anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. In vivo experiments have shown that they cross the blood brain barrier and inhibit neuroinflammation in well-defined animal models of multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease.”

Aphios and VivaCell have executed research and commercialization agreements to develop these drug candidates through preclinical studies, clinical development and commercialization in the United States and Europe.  According to Dr. Trevor P. Castor, President & CEO, Aphios Corporation, “We are jointly developing this novel class of non-psychotropic cannabinoids that could have a significant impact on multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. We will apply our enabling technology platforms to enhance the oral bioavailability of these first in class compounds, bypass first round metabolism in the liver, improve safety and increase therapeutic efficacy.”

ABOUT APHIOS CORPORATION

Aphios Corporation (www.aphios.com), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, is developing enhanced therapeutics for chronic, debilitating diseases and improving quality of life. Aphios has developed green, enabling technology platforms for improving drug discovery and manufacturing, nanotechnology drug delivery, viral vaccines, and virus-free human plasma and biologics.  Based on these platforms, Aphios is developing quality-of-life medicines for health maintenance and disease prevention, and enhanced therapeutics for the treatment of certain cancers and supportive care, infectious disease such as HIV, and CNS disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

ABOUT VIVACELL BIOTECHNOLOGY

VivaCell Biotechnology España S.L. (www.vivacellspain.com) is a privately owned biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of new cannabinoid-based medicines for the treatment of inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Since the company’s founding in Cordoba (Spain) in 2003, VivaCell has consolidated its business based on its extensive library of natural products and their biotechnological platforms.

This Press Release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and is subject to the safe harbors created thereby.  All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

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For More Information Contact:

M.Luz Bellido, PhD, MBA
Tel.: +34 957 290 666
m.bellido@vivacellspain.com

VivaCell Biotechnology España S.L.
Parque Científico Tecnológico de Córdoba (Rabanales 21)
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14014 Córdoba (Spain)