woosh ... journal of bio chem paper JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL...

woosh ... journal of bio chem paper JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY PAPER
FURTHER VALIDATES PRANA SCIENCE
Melbourne, Australia – October 15, 2004: Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ:
PRAN, ASX: PBT), today announced that the Journal of Biological Chemistry has published
a new paper in its September 30 edition called ‘Clioquinol Mediates Copper Uptake and
Counteracts Cu Efflux Activities of the Amyloid Precursor Protein of Alzheimer’s Disease.’
The paper further supports Prana’s theory that PBT-1 (clioquinol) slows down the progression
of Alzheimer’s disease.
Based on the hypothesis that beta amyloid is a key player in the onset and progression of
Alzheimer’s disease, Prana maintains that it is the inappropriate interaction of beta amyloid
with brain metals, copper and zinc, that leads to the progression associated with the disease.
Unlike current approved Alzheimer’s therapies that largely treat the symptoms of the disease,
PBT-1, PBT-2 and Prana’s additional MPACs (Metal Protein Attenuating Compounds) hold
promise to help prevent the progression of the disease.
The newly published paper helps clarify the normal role of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP),
the precursor of amyloid beta protein that is the primary constituent of the senile plaques that
are characteristically found in Alzheimer’s disease brains. APP appears to be a critical
regulator of intracellular Cu homeostasis. The authors also show that oral treatment of
transgenic mice with clioquinol (also known as PBT-1) does not result in a depletion of Cu
and Zn systemically suggesting that PBT-1 does not act as a metal chelator, but instead may
be redistributing these metals from the amyloid plaques back to cells.
Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D., Director, Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and co-founding scientist
of Prana Biotechnology, commented, "The new findings showing that PBT-1 can act
therapeutically by facilitating copper uptake into cells could be clinically very beneficial for
treating Alzheimer’s disease when taken together with it's ability to clear senile plaques."
About Prana Biotechnology Limited
Prana Biotechnology was established to commercialize research into Alzheimer's disease
and other major age-related degenerative disorders. The company was incorporated in 1997
and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in March 2000 and listed on NASDAQ in
September 2002. Researchers at prominent international institutions including the University
of Melbourne and Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical
School, discovered Prana’s technology.
For further information, please visit our web site at www.pranabio.com.
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This press release contains “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
regarding the Company’s business strategy and future plans of operation. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks
and uncertainties; both general and specific to the matters discussed in this press release. These and other important factors, including
those mentioned in various Securities and Exchange Commission filings made by the Company, may cause the Company’s actual results
and performance to differ materially from the future results and performance expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and the Company expressly disclaims any
obligation to provide public updates, revisions or amendments to any forward-looking statements made herein to reflect changes in the
Company’s expectations or future events.
Contacts:
Jon Alšenas, CEO, Prana Biotechnology Ltd.
1-203-328-3097
Rebecca Christie, Investor and Media Relations
+61 2 9293 2836 / [email protected]