AB Science: publication of preclinical data on the neuroprotective effect of masitinib


Paris, 30 October 2014, 6:00 pm

Publication of preclinical data on the neuroprotective effect of masitinib

Further evidence for masitinib's prospective role in neurodegenerative diseases

AB Science SA (NYSE Euronext - FR0010557264 - AB), a pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and commercialization of protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs), announces the publication of preclinical study results with masitinib in ischemic stroke. Entitled, 'Neuroprotective effect of masitinib in rats with postischemic stroke' this article and its accompanying supplementary information are freely accessible online from the peer-reviewed journal Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00210-014-1061-6

  • Findings showed that masitinib reduced stroke-related brain infarct size in an animal model of stroke.
  • Masitinib may be recommended as an appropriate candidate for further development of novel neuroprotective strategies, including in acute ischemic stroke.

Dr. Ivan Kocic, principal author of this publication declared: "Mast cells are present on both sides of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and interact with neurons, glia, blood vessels, and other hematopoietic cell. Mast cells disrupt the permeability of the BBB when they degranulate. Mast cells are also involved in neuro inflammation responsible for neuronal alteration and engage in cross-talk with microglia and astrocytes. Masitinib, by blocking mast cell degranulation on the blood side of the BBB (i.e. extracerebral), may restore integrity of the BBB and reduce neuro-inflammation. This preclinical study, showing the potential of masitinib to improve therapeutic outcome of ischemic stroke, most probably via preservation of BBB integrity, provides further evidence of masitinib's prospective role in neurodegenerative diseases."

Masitinib is under development in numerous neurological indications, including Alzheimer's disease, progressive multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), for which there is evidence that mast cells actively participate in pathogenesis, in particular through modulation of the BBB. These current results in ischemic stroke provide further evidence that masitinib can potentially offer an innovative therapeutic solution to neurodegenerative diseases with high medical need.

About masitinib
Masitinib is a new orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets mast cells and macrophages, important cells for immunity, through inhibiting a limited number of kinases. Based on its unique mechanism of action, masitinib can be developed in a large number of conditions in oncology, in inflammatory diseases, and in certain diseases of the central nervous system. In oncology due to its immunotherapy effect, masitinib can have an effect on survival, alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Through its activity on mast cells and consequently the inhibition of the activation of the inflammatory process, masitinib can have an effect on the symptoms associated with some inflammatory and central nervous system diseases and the degeneration of these diseases.

About AB Science
Founded in 2001, AB Science is a pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and commercialization of protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs), a  class of targeted proteins whose action are key in signaling pathways within cells. Our programs target only diseases with high unmet medical needs, often lethal with short term survival or rare or refractory to previous line of treatment in cancers, inflammatory diseases, and central nervous system diseases, both in human and animal health.

AB Science has developed a proprietary portfolio of molecules and the Company's lead compound, masitinib, has already been registered for veterinary medicine in Europe and in the USA. The company is currently pursuing thirteen phase 3 studies in human medicine in first-line and second-line GIST, metastatic melanoma expressing JM mutation of c-Kit, multiple myeloma, metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, mastocytosis, severe persistent asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The company is headquartered in Paris, France, and listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: AB).

Further information is available on AB Science's website: www.ab-science.com

This document contains prospective information. No guarantee can be given as for the realization of these forecasts, which are subject to those risks described in documents deposited by the Company to the Authority of the financial markets, including trends of the economic conjuncture, the financial markets and the markets on which AB Science is present.

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