NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NSB) reports its EmtinB treatment can significantly reduce biomarkers for key drivers of dysfunctional immune responses in Multiple sclerosis (MS).
The biomarkers specifically related to inflammation, immunomodulation, and cell migration. These significant results add to the growing body of impressive data that supports development of EmtinB as a potential disease-modifying treatment for MS.
The preclinical biomarker study was conducted in human primary cell-based systems (BioMAP) by leading independent contract research organisation Eurofins, US.
NeuroScientific is developing its lead drug candidate EmtinB as a therapeutic treatment for neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and MS.
The company has previously reported highly significant results from completed studies in MS (which demonstrated that EmtinB increased survival of neurons (neuroprotection), regenerated axons of neurons, and upregulated the process of remyelination (the protective sheath around axons that is degraded in MS).
Managing Director, Matt Liddelow, said that additionally, EmtinB increased myelin formation by >30% in comparison to leading MS drug Copaxone, which generated peak sales revenue of US$4 billion.
“It is incredibly exciting to continue to explore the many potential therapeutic benefits of EmtinBTM and these current results from our biomarker studies further validate the disease modifying potential of EmtinB as a treatment for Multiple sclerosis,” he said.
“Unlike currently available drugs for MS, EmtinB has the potential to regulate immune processes, protect and regenerate nerve cells, and upregulate myelination.”
MS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterised by chronic inflammatory responses, whereby activated immune cells migrate into the central nervous system (CNS) and attack the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibres and damage neurons, leading to disruption of normal cognitive, sensory, and motor function.
Cell signalling chemicals, called cytokines and chemokines, are key drivers of the immune responses in MS and are often used as biomarkers to assess treatment effect.1 Global sales for approved MS drugs in 2020 was approximately US$22 billion.2
EmtinB significantly reduced important MS-related biomarkers Interferon gamma inducible protein-10 (CXCL10/IP-10), Immunoglobulin G (IgG), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9),
EmtinB reduced cell proliferation in Th1-type inflammation and did not cause any cytotoxicity. Since these biomarkers are significantly elevated in MS and associated with the pathophysiology of the disease, their down regulation by EmtinB indicates the strong therapeutic potential of EmtinB as a treatment for MS.