Nanobac Pharmaceuticals and Fetzer Memorial Trust Enter Groundbreaking Collaboration to Photograph Never Before Seen Calcification Mechanism
August 07, 2006 05:31 PM US Eastern Timezone
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TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 7, 2006--Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB:NNBP) ("Nanobac" or "the Company") today announced it has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Fetzer Memorial Trust to photograph the replication cycle of disease-related calcifying particles (also known as nanobacteria or Calcifying Nanoparticles), using light microscopes to break the 200 nanometer ("nm") resolution barrier. The breakthrough allows Nanobac scientists to determine if calcification, which occurs in most diseases on the leading causes of death list, has a biological mechanism, which would make it susceptible to therapy. Results could generate new approaches to the treatment of calcifying diseases such as heart disease, kidney stones and diabetes, and validate the significance of related Nanobac diagnostics and therapies.
"Until now, scientists had to 'fix' or inactivate such nanoparticles to see below the 200 nm threshold using electron microscopy," explained Nanobac's Co-Chairman and Research Group head, Dr. Benedict Maniscalco. "Now we can photograph the replication cycle without inactivating the particles. This is essential because some have a replication time of days rather than minutes or hours, which rendered electron microscopy ineffective for this purpose."
The technology was developed at Auburn University and is marketed by Aetos Technologies. The "CytoViva"(TM) microscope system is capable of resolving details at or below 100 nm and of detecting particles as small as 50 nm, representing a significant improvement over conventional light microscopes. The CytoViva(TM) system was selected in June by R&D Magazine as one of the top 100 most technologically significant products introduced to the marketplace in 2006. This international award is often referred to as the 'Oscar of Inventions.'
Calcifying nanoparticles have been isolated by many researchers in diseases ranging from atherosclerosis to kidney stones, but support for research into therapies against these particles has been hampered by lack of visual proof that the particles self-replicate. "Since the 1980s scientists have tried to photograph replication of calcifying nanoparticles, without success," Dr. Maniscalco added, "Now we have the tools to do it, thanks to the innovative approach of the Fetzer Memorial Trust."
The Fetzer Memorial Trust has supported development of this technology for many years, and has made arrangements for Nanobac to use one of a very few available microscopes. The research is being done by Nanobac scientists at Nanobac laboratories located at the NASA Johnson Space Center Astrobiology Laboratories in Houston, Texas, as part of Nanobac's recently announced new core research priorities. The microscope is currently located in Nanobac's labs and work has begun. Initial results are expected by year-end. Nanobac has the exclusive right to intellectual property resulting from discoveries about calcifying nanoparticles in this research project.
About Nanobac Pharmaceuticals
Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a life science company dedicated to the discovery and development of products and services to improve people's health through the detection and treatment of Calcifying Nanoparticles, otherwise known as "nanobacteria". The Company's pioneering research is establishing the pathogenic role of nanobacteria in soft tissue calcification, particularly in coronary artery, prostate, and vascular disease.
Nanobac's drug discovery and development is focused on developing new and existing compounds that effectively inhibit, destroy or neutralize CNPs. Nanobac manufactures In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) kits and reagents for the detection of Calcifying Nanoparticles. IVD products include the NANOCAPTURE(TM) and NANO-SERO(TM) ELISA assays and the Nano-Vision(TM) line of antibodies and reagents. Nanobac's BioAnalytical Services works with biopharmaceutical partners to develop and apply methods for avoiding, detecting, and inactivating or eliminating CNPs from raw materials.
Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, please visit our website at: nanobac.com .
Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this document, some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. officials are "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Forward-Looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. actions, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Forward-Looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and to vary significantly from reporting period to reporting period. Although management believes that the assumptions will, in fact, prove to be correct or that actual future results will not be different from the expectations expressed in this report. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has no specific intention to update these statements.
Contacts
Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tampa
Douglas Mulhall 813-262-9025
dmulhall-at-nanobaclabs.com
or
Redwood Consultants, LLC 415-884-0348
InvestorInfo@RedwoodConsultants.com |
