OA related,....
FOR: IBEX TECHNOLOGIES INC.
TSX SYMBOL: IBT.T
OCTOBER 28, 2002 - 06:30 EST
IBEX Technologies Announces the Discovery of a Novel
Arthritis Target
MONTREAL, CANADA--
Data presented at the 66th Annual Scientific Meeting of the
American College of Rheumatology
IBEX Technologies (TSE: IBT.T) announced today the discovery of a
novel therapeutic target for the treatment of arthritis. This
peptide target showed evidence of activating the production of
collagenase, an enzyme that destroys cartilage. The data
(presentation number 1006) were presented by A. Robin Poole,
Ph.D., and colleagues from the Shriners Hospitals for Children in
Montreal, Canada, at the 66th Annual Scientific Meeting of the
American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in New Orleans on Sunday,
October 27, 2002.
"The understanding of this peptide and its associated signaling
pathways represents the discovery of a new mechanism of action in
the progression of arthritis," commented A. Robin Poole, Ph.D.,
D.Sc., Scientific Director, Canadian Arthritis Network, Director,
Joint Disease Laboratory, Shriners Hospital for Children in
Montreal, and Professor, Departments of surgery and medicine,
McGill University. "This knowledge may allow researchers to
define new strategies to alter and limit this debilitating
disease."
"The discovery of this proprietary arthritis target provides IBEX
with the opportunity to identify novel antibodies and small
molecules that react with this target to delay or halt the
progression of arthritis," commented Paul Baehr, Chairman and CEO
of IBEX Technologies. "IBEX is currently seeking a pharmaceutical
partner to advance the program into late-stage development."
About the Study
The goal of the study was to determine whether a specific peptide
(a collagen fragment) up-regulated gene expression and protein
production of collagenases in isolated normal human chondrocytes,
and to determine which receptor and signaling pathways were
involved in this up-regulation. The study demonstrated that a
synthetic peptide of type II collagen (SP) can induce the cleavage
of type II collagen by collagenase in human cartilage explants.
This occurs when the peptide "docks" with a receptor on the
surface of a cartilage cell which in turn signals the collagenase
gene to start producing additional destructive enzymes.
About IBEX Technologies, Inc.
IBEX Technologies, Inc. (TSE: IBT.T) is focused on the development
and commercialization of proprietary biochemical biomarkers for
the diagnosis of disease, the monitoring of drug therapy and the
development of unique drug treatments. IBEX currently sells a
number of proprietary biomarkers to research institutes and
pharmaceutical companies for use in drug discovery and clinical
development. For additional information please visit the
company's Web site at www.ibex.ca.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
IBEX Technologies Inc.
Paul Baehr
President & CEO
(514) 344-4004
(514) 344-8827 (FAX)
Email : info@ibex.ca
or
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
Karla MacDonald
(617) 761-6760
or
Renmark Financial Communications
John Boidman
(514) 939-3989 |
