OrthoLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:
OLGC) today announced results of experiments that advance the basic science
supporting its novel synthetic peptide Chrysalin (TP508). Two posters are
being presented at the American Society for Cell Biology 46th Annual
Meeting in San Diego, CA (December 9 - 13, 2006).
"The experiments being presented at this year's ASCB Annual Meeting
help to further our understanding of the basic science behind this exciting
molecule," said Darrell H. Carney, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology at The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. "We
have gained greater insight into how TP508 stimulates repair and
revascularization of tissues; we believe that endothelial cells play a key
role in a number of TP508 effects."
The first presentation demonstrates binding and chemical cross-linking
of TP508 to specific molecules on the surface of endothelial cells. This is
the first identification of what may be a specific TP508 receptor. It
therefore represents a significant step in understanding how TP508
activates cells.
Dr. Carney and colleagues have explored the signals that are stimulated
by TP508 binding to endothelial cells. Their studies, as described in the
second presentation, show that TP508 increases the ability of endothelial
cells to produce nitric oxide and that TP508 prevents negative effects
caused by oxygen deprivation, a condition found in myocardial ischemia and
chronic wounds. This discovery may provide a unifying hypothesis to explain
how TP508 stimulates tissue repair, and raises the possibility that TP508
could be useful in treating a number of vascular diseases associated with
aging where endothelial cells fail to produce nitric oxide.
About the Receptor Binding Presentation
"Demonstration of Specific Binding of TP508 to Receptors on Fibroblasts
and Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells by Photo-Affinity Cross-Linking"
TP508 is a non-proteolytic synthetic peptide representing the portion
of human thrombin originally identified as the fibroblast high-affinity
receptor binding domain. TP508 initiates cellular effects distinct from
those of proteolytically active thrombin and has been postulated to bind a
non-proteolytically activated thrombin receptor (NPAR). TP508 has been
shown to accelerate revascularization and repair of animal tissues and to
accelerate healing of bone fractures (based on x-ray evidence) and diabetic
foot ulcers. The data presented show that TP508 specifically binds to one
or more cell surface receptors. The data also provide initial
characterization of receptor molecules that appear to be distinct from the
PAR1 thrombin receptor. Ongoing characterization and sequencing will
provide additional answers to advance the understanding of how these
molecules relate to TP508 signaling.
About the eNOS Presentation
"Thrombin Peptide, TP508, Upregulates Expression and Activation of eNOS
and Prevents Hypoxia-Induced eNOS Downregulation in Human Endothelial
Cells"
TP508 is being evaluated in preclinical tests for potential use in
myocardial revascularization and other vascular indications. In animal
models, TP508 accelerates repair and revascularization of dermal and
musculoskeletal tissue and increases the density of blood vessels in
ischemic myocardium. This abstract describes experiments in which the
authors studied the effects of TP508 on endothelial cell nitric oxide (NO)
signaling and the enzyme that produces NO (eNOS). Impaired NO production
reduces the responsiveness of endothelial cells to angiogenic factors and
causes loss of endothelial function in ischemic and inflamed blood vessels
contributing to a number of chronic diseases. The authors hypothesized that
TP508 may accelerate tissue repair by stimulating NO production or
restoring the ability of dysfunctional cells to make NO. If so, TP508 may
have potential therapeutic value in tissues and diseases exhibiting
endothelial dysfunction. The studies show that in human coronary artery
endothelial cells, TP508 increased phosphorylation of eNOS. This effect of
TP508 was observed in normal cells and those cultured in low oxygen. TP508
also increased eNOS expression and prevented low oxygen-induced decreases
in eNOS expression. Therefore, TP508 may exert its effects in a number of
tissues by modulating eNOS activity and NO production in endothelial cells.
About OrthoLogic
OrthoLogic is a biotechnology company committed to developing a
pipeline of novel therapeutic peptides and other molecules aimed at helping
patients with under-served medical conditions. The Company is focused on
the development and commercialization of two product platforms:
Chrysalin(R) (TP508) and AZX100.
Chrysalin, the Company's novel synthetic 23-amino acid peptide, is
being studied in two lead indications, both of which represent areas of
significant unmet medical need -- fracture repair and diabetic foot ulcer
healing. Based on the Company's pioneering scientific research of the
natural healing cascade, OrthoLogic has become a leading company focused on
bone and tissue repair. The Company owns exclusive worldwide rights to
Chrysalin.
AZX100 is a novel synthetic pre-clinical 24-amino acid peptide, one of
a new class of compounds in the field of smooth muscle relaxation called
Intracellular Actin Relaxing Molecules, or ICARMs(TM). AZX100 is currently
being evaluated for commercially significant medical applications, such as
the treatment of vasospasm associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage, the
prevention of keloid scarring and the treatment of asthma. OrthoLogic has
an exclusive worldwide license to AZX100.
OrthoLogic's corporate headquarters are in Tempe, Arizona. For more
information, please visit the Company's website: orthologic.
Statements in this press release or otherwise attributable to
OrthoLogic regarding our business that are not historical facts are made
pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which include the
timing and acceptability of FDA filings and the efficacy and marketability
of potential products, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from predicted results. These risks
include: delays in obtaining or inability to obtain FDA, institutional
review board or other regulatory approvals of pre-clinical or clinical
testing; unfavorable outcomes in our pre-clinical and clinical testing; the
development by others of competing technologies and therapeutics that may
have greater efficacy or lower cost; delays in obtaining or inability to
obtain FDA or other necessary regulatory approval of our products; our
inability to successfully and cost effectively develop or outsource
manufacturing and marketing of any products we are able to bring to market;
changes in FDA or other regulations that affect our ability to obtain
regulatory approval of our products, increase our manufacturing costs or
limit our ability to market our products; our possible need for additional
capital in the future to fund the continued development of our product
candidates; and other factors discussed in our Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2005, and other documents we file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
OrthoLogic Corp.
orthologic
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