Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise Inc. (PREVENT) using Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd technology (ProMIS) for vaccines against misfolded prion disease including TSEs and cancer

SASKATOON, Aug. 29, 2011 /CNW/ - The Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise Inc. (PREVENT), a national Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR), has signed an exclusive license with Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. of Missisauga, Ontario for the use of their proprietary ProMIS technology in developing vaccines (active immunotherapy) for the treatment of diseases caused by the formation of misfolded prion (PrP).

The ProMIS® technology is a computer based algorithm that predicts disease specific epitopes (DSEs) in misfolded proteins based on thermodynamic analysis to identify regions most likely to lose structure under stress or mildly denaturing conditions. This identifies epitopes which may only be exposed in disease state proteins and hence provided a means to generating a targeted immune response against these abnormal proteins leaving normal proteins unscathed. Active immunization using these DSEs formulated in a vaccine have the ability to generate antibodies in vivo that are more efficacious and have a better safety profile than the current therapeutics used.

PREVENT has licenced ProMIS targets in the prion protein for two distinct applications: as prophylactic vaccine targets to block infection by prions (as in chronic wasting disease of deer and elk), and as therapeutic vaccine targets for cancers in which the normal prion protein structure is disrupted. Dr. Neil Cashman, Chief Scientific Officer of Amorfix, said "our discovery that exposure of prion protein targets in prion disease and cancer provides a strong rationale for pursuing vaccine approaches to these two important diseases in animals and human beings."

Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd., a biotechnology and product development company is focused on diagnostics and therapeutics for misfolded protein diseases and has recently announced the completion of initial characterization of its anti-PrP antibodies in cellular assay systems, which shows selective binding to certain tumour cells, but not to normal cells.

PREVENT is focused on the mid-stage development of active vaccine candidates and, under the terms of the agreement, receives the exclusive worldwide license to use the technology including standard operating procedures and process documentation along with information on materials, suppliers and necessary equipment to facilitate the development of vaccines.

About PREVENT

The Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise Inc. (PREVENT), funded by the federal Networks of Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research, is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the Province of Saskatchewan and headquartered at the University of Saskatchewan.  PREVENT'S  mandate is to accelerate/catalyze the development and commercialization of promising vaccine technologies from academic and research institutions, and life science Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME), to address Canadian public health issues. PREVENT will add value by providing the necessary development expertise to move products along the commercialization value chain, thereby significantly reducing the risk and increasing attractiveness to potential  recipient organizations. PREVENT'S internal resources are leveraged through collaborative partnerships involving an extensive national network of stakeholders including the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BC-CDC) and the Canadian Center for Vaccinology (CCfV).

PREVENT contact information:                                                                                                                                                                                     

Peter Yim
Director of Outreach and Partnerships
Pan-Provincial Vaccine Enterprise Inc. (PREVENT)
306-966-1533
[e-mail]
www.prevent-cecr.ca

About Amorfix    

Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd. (TSX:AMF) is a product development company developing therapeutic products and diagnostic devices targeting misfolded protein diseases including Alzheimer's Disease (AD), cancers, and ALS. Amorfix utilizes its computational discovery platform, ProMIS, to predict novel Disease Specific Epitopes ("DSEs") on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Amorfix's lead programs include therapeutics and companion diagnostics for cancers, antibodies and vaccines to DSEs in ALS and AD diagnostic tests. In addition, Amorfix's proprietary Epitope Protection™ technology enables it to specifically identify very low levels of misfolded proteins in a biological sample. The Company's diagnostic programs include an ultrasensitive method for the detection of aggregated beta-Amyloid in brain tissue, CSF and blood from animal models of AD, months prior to observable amyloid formation, and development of a predictive human screening test for AD. For more information about Amorfix, visit www.amorfix.com.

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