Bioasis Technologies Inc (CVE:BTI) (OTCQB:BIOAF) has announced the publication of research validating the ability of its xB3 platform to cross the intact blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its localization in a variety of brain cell types.
In a statement, the company said professor Wilfred Jefferies together with scientists from both the Jefferies Laboratory and Bioasis used multiple approaches to help pinpoint and then evaluate Bioasis’ xB3 platform technology by investigating its ability to traverse the BBB.
The company said this research shows that the xB3 platform can cross intact BBB and enter intracellular organelles within neurons, glia, and microglia in the brain.
READ: Bioasis Technologies teams up with Aposense for siRNA delivery research
It said the data from a study published on June 2 in the Frontiers in Neuroscience provide evidence for the utility of xB3 peptide (previously known as MTfpep) as a platform technology for delivery of recombinant and chemically conjugated drug across the BBB.
The study characterizes the utility of xB3 in brain delivery where the BBB remains intact and thus offers new avenues for potential treatments in a variety of neuropathologies that are currently refractory to existing therapies.
“This research was carried out over many years and describes the discovery of the minimally active region within melanotransferrin that retains the capability of transendothelial transport across the blood brain barrier in both in vitro blood brain barrier models and in vivo blood brain barrier transcytosis in mammals,” said Dr Jefferies, a professor at the University of British Columbia and the leader of the project.
“This human MTf peptide appears to be unusual as it is extremely highly conserved among many mammals but differs in comparison to peptides in evolutionarily conserved human proteins, transferrin or lactoferrin, that do not appreciably cross the blood brain barrier. Furthermore, it is fascinating that upon entering the brain, the MTf peptide distributes into many cell types in the CNS including neurons, microglia and glia where it enters specific organelles, including endosomes and lysosomes.”
Dr Deborah Rathjen, executive chair of Bioasis’ board, added: “These data further validate the utility of our xB3 platform technology to achieve delivery of therapeutic compounds across the BBB at levels that may help treat a variety of CNS diseases. This data is consistent with the previous studies where our technology successfully delivered enzymes, antibodies and siRNA across the BBB with demonstrated efficacy in both the brain and the periphery in settings as diverse as brain cancers, neuropathic pain and lysosomal storage disorders.”
Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com
Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham