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MultiCell and Columbia University Begin Joint Research Program
Thursday December 1, 8:48 am ET
LINCOLN, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 1, 2005--MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: MCET - News) announced today that it has entered into a research agreement to investigate a novel anti-apoptosis compound. MultiCell will fund research at Columbia University Medical Center, and will have an option to enter into an exclusive worldwide license for any invention resulting from the research. The project is designed to determine whether the compound can protect against retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in acute and chronic in vivo models of optic neuropathy. The underlying mechanisms of RGC death are not fully understood, though RGC apoptosis has been heavily implicated in many ocular neurodegenerative diseases. Given the delicate balance between the survival and death signals in neuronal cells, molecules that are capable of inhibiting apoptosis are strongly considered as future therapeutic options for the treatment of ocular neurodegenerative diseases. James C. Tsai, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, will direct the research program.
Dr. Stephen Chang, Ph.D., President of MultiCell Technologies, said, "We are excited about the opportunity to work with Dr. Tsai and his colleagues at Columbia. As we continue developing and commercializing therapeutic products, macular degeneration presents a significant opportunity."
Macular degeneration, a common ocular neurodegenerative disease that causes deterioration of the macula, is a primary focus of the research effort between MultiCell and Columbia. Sharp, clear, 'straight ahead' vision is processed by the macula, which is located in the central part of the retina. Damage to the macula results in the development of blind spots and blurred or distorted vision. Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a major cause of visual impairment in the United States, and for people over age 65 it is the leading cause of legal blindness among Caucasians. Approximately 1.8 million Americans age 40 and older have advanced ARMD, and another 7.3 million people with intermediate ARMD are at substantial risk for vision loss. The US government estimates by 2020 there will be 2.9 million people with advanced ARMD. There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration, namely "wet" and "dry". For many people, the visual cells simply cease to function - like colors fading in an old photograph - due to the thinning of the macular tissues and resulting disturbances in its pigmentation. This form of ARMD is known as the "dry" form of macular degeneration. Seventy percent of patients have the dry form of macular degeneration. The other thirty percent of ARMD patients have the "wet" form of macular degeneration, which can involve bleeding within and beneath the retina, opaque deposits, and scar tissue. The "wet" form of ARMD accounts for ninety percent of all cases of legal blindness among macular degeneration patients. Different forms of macular degeneration may occur in younger patients. These non-age-related cases of macular degeneration may be linked to heredity, diabetes, nutritional deficits, head injury, infection, or other factors. |
