Intellect Neurosciences,
Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ILNS) a biopharmaceutical company focused on
development of disease-modifying therapeutic agents for the treatment and
prevention of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, announced
that Dr. Rachel Eren, Vice President Research, will present new data
regarding the Company's RECALL-VAX(TM) chimeric peptide vaccine technology
at the 13th International Congress of Immunology on Thursday, August 23,
2007 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mice immunized with RECALL-VAX(TM)
constructs mounted a robust and highly specific immune response against
beta-amyloid. The data demonstrate for the first time that a "free-end
specific" polyclonal response to beta-amyloid can be achieved, potentially
overcoming an important safety concern for active immunization of
Alzheimer's disease patients.
"We are pleased with our scientists' progress in establishing important
proof of principle for this novel and proprietary vaccine technology, which
is designed to make active immunization safe and practical for treating
Alzheimer's patients," commented Dr. Daniel Chain, Intellect's Chairman and
CEO. He added: "We believe that RECALL-VAX(TM) could potentially be used
prophylactically to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease in
elderly people."
"There are multiple challenges in developing a means to safely immunize
elderly individuals and avoid the failures encountered in previous clinical
trials sponsored by major pharmaceutical companies," commented Professor
Benjamin Chain at the Department of Immunology and Molecular Pathology,
Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London.
Professor Chain added: "The major challenges are the need to: (i) mount a
robust immune response when the immune system has become senescent as the
result of age; (ii) avoid autoimmune reactions; and (iii) ensure that the
antibodies generated do not interfere with the normal physiological
functions of the Amyloid Precursor Protein. RECALL-VAX(TM) is specifically
designed to address these challenges." Professor Chain, the brother of Dr.
Daniel Chain, Intellect's Chairman and CEO, is the inventor of
RECALL-VAX(TM) and a member of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board.
About Intellect's RECALL-VAX(TM) technology
The key to inactivation of the beta-amyloid toxin by vaccination is to
stimulate a strong antibody immune response that specifically targets the
toxin. The proprietary RECALL-VAX(TM) technology combines a short fragment
of beta-amyloid with part of the tetanus toxoid, against which most people
have been vaccinated, to provide B and T-helper epitopes, respectively,
while specifically targeting the beta-amyloid toxin. This combination
increases the likelihood of generating a robust immune response as a result
of the memory imprint created by tetanus toxoid without the danger of
contamination from potentially harmful human beta-amyloid T-cell epitopes.
The short fragments of beta-amyloid used in RECALL-VAX(TM) ensure that only
the toxin, and not the protein from which it is derived, is targeted by the
antibodies, and because of their short length, the fragments are incapable
of provoking an autoimmune response.
About Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, is characterized
by progressive loss of memory and cognition, ultimately leading to complete
debilitation and death. A hallmark feature of Alzheimer's pathology is the
presence of insoluble protein deposits known as beta-amyloid on the surface
of nerve cells, which results from the accumulation of soluble beta-amyloid
in the brain. The effects of the disease are devastating to the patients as
well as the caregivers, with significant associated health care costs. It
is estimated that there are over 12 million people suffering from
Alzheimer's disease in the major markets worldwide with the number
increasing as the global population ages. Currently marketed drugs
transiently affect some of the symptoms of the disease, but there are no
drugs on the market today that slow or arrest the progression of the
disease. These symptomatic drugs are projected to generate approximately $4
billion in sales by 2008, indicating both the size of the market and the
demand for effective treatment beyond symptomatic improvements.
About Intellect Neurosciences, Inc.
Intellect Neurosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in
the discovery and development of disease-modifying therapeutic agents for
the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
The Company has a broad proprietary immunotherapy platform for both active
and passive (using humanized monoclonal antibodies) immunization against
Alzheimer's disease. Also, Intellect has recently completed Phase I
clinical trials for OXIGON(TM), a unique antioxidant and anti-amyloid
compound that has potential to treat Alzheimer's disease and other
disorders.
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Intellect Neurosciences, Inc.
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