BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

University of Leipzig, Amarantus BioScience deal

September 1, 2014 7:00 AM UTC

The University of Leipzig granted Amarantus an exclusive option to license IP related to methods of modulating the expression of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A ( CDKN2A; INK4a; ARF; p16INK4a) in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients using gene therapy. Amarantus and the university will have 12 months to negotiate a definitive license agreement, and the parties will establish a sponsored research agreement to advance the technology into clinical development. Amarantus said the IP may be used to develop targeted therapies for AD patients who tested positive with the company’s LymPro Test, which measure CD69 presentations at the surface in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) with and without mitogenic stimulation.

In August, the company reported interim data from the LP-002 pilot study of LymPro to diagnose AD, with final data expected this year. Amarantus plans to launch LymPro as a laboratory-developed test (LDT) this half. In December 2012, Amarantus Bioscience Inc. acquired exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize the LymPro Test from Memory Dx LLC (Phoenix, Ariz.). ...