Amarantus Bioscience Holdings Inc (AMBS)

[breezy1]

This new research is worth $1.00 per share

http://seekingalpha.com/article/2132133-still-several-reasons-to-remain-long-amarantus

http://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=MANF

MANF & Diabetes

8K dated 6/3/11
Amarantus enters into a Letter Agreement regarding Intellectual Properties Licensing and Collaboration Arrangements with Generex Biotechnology Corporation.

In addition to receiving a license of the Generex Technologies, they also agreed to collaborate with Generex regarding research and development of MANF and related molecules, as well asm the PhenoGuard process for application in the field of diabetes treatment.

----------------------------------------------

Press Release dated 6/8/11
"The joint efforts of many players, starting from the discovery of a new use of MANF at UMass Medical School for diabetes, and the synergies of two highly committed organizations, has allowed us to generate a unique opportunity to launch a commercial development program for MANF as a biomarker of cellular stress and stressed beta cells in diabetes," said Dr. Fumihiko Urano, associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who identified MANF's role in this area.

Concurrently with this announcement, Amarantus announced that it has executed an Exclusive Option Agreement with the University of Massachusetts Medical School ("UMMS") to license intellectual property recently developed at UMMS to advance Amarantus' diabetes diagnostic development and commercialization program using Amarantus' lead protein MANF as a biomarker for beta cell stress.

----------------------------------------------

8K dated 7/25/11
On June 3, 2011, we disclosed entering into a Letter Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Generex Biotechnology Corporation (“Generex”) regarding the licensing of certain intellectual properties and forming collaborative arrangements for the benefit of the parties. In our disclosure, we explained that the material terms of the Agreement will be evidenced by further documentation to be delivered on a formal Closing Date to take place no later than July 15, 2011.

Although we are still in negotiations with Generex over the material terms and are actively pursuing developing the necessary documentation to close the transaction, we have not been able to do so by our target date of July 15, 2011.

----------------------------------------------

Press Release dated 8/4/11
The potential of Amarantus' proprietary PhenoGuard cell immortalization process to create a stable source of representative beta cells that can be used in cell replacement therapy in patients who have lost virtually all beta cell function represents a potential major breakthrough for the treatment of chronic, late-stage diabetes," said Dr. James Anderson, Senior Scientific Advisor and Director of Generex

The two companies are currently planning to develop a MANF-based diagnostic test to identify a sub-population at risk of developing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes

"To date, the Amarantus PhenoGuard technologies have been able to immortalize cells in a manner that maintains the phenotypic characteristics of the cells being immortalized," said Dr. John Commissiong, Chief Scientific Officer of Amarantus. "The potential to create immortal clones of beta cells that could be used in cell therapy procedures would further validate the Amarantus technologies, positioning Amarantus as a unique resource for novel cell lines, while creating a powerful tool to change the clinical outcomes in patients with the most severe forms of diabetes."

----------------------------------------------

July 2012
The company became aware of the escalation of a patent dispute, in the form of a formal hearing with the European Union brought forth by Hermo Pharma (Mart Saarma), based in Helsinki, Finland. Hermo had sought to invalidate the Company’s European composition of matter patents based upon what the Company believed to be frivolous grounds.

At a hearing held November 6, 2012 the Opposition Division of the European Patent Office upheld the Company’s European Patents relating to neurotrophic factor MANF, following opposition by rival Hermo.

----------------------------------------------

8K dated 10/17/12
On 17 October 2012, Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. was awarded a Translational Research Grant award from the University of Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute's Center of Excellence in Apoptosis Research (CEAR). With award of the Grant, Amarantus agreed to collaborate with the University of Massachusetts to conduct a study to exploit publicly available genomics databases to identify potentially new therapeutic targets for Mesencdphalic Astrocyte derived Neurotrophic Factor, or MANF-based therapeutics, and then validate those hypotheses in cell-based laboratory research, which could lead to the identification and patenting of therapeutic indications for MANF beyond what has already been reported. MANF is a protein that corrects protein misfolding, one of the major causes of Apoptosis, or cell death.

----------------------------------------------

Press Release dated 10/17/12
"The literature on MANF has grown extensively during the past few years, and there appears to be a solid rationale for investigating the potential use of MANF in areas other than Parkinson's disease," said Dr. Lawrence M. Schwartz, Isenberg Professor of Integrative Sciences at the University of Massachusetts and current Amarantus Scientific Advisor who will serve as the Principal Investigator on the project. "Our study compliments the work of other labs around the world that are focusing on MANF. Our relationship with Amarantus will be critical to ensure that we can translate this basic science into clinical research in a number of different therapeutic indications."

"This grant will enable Amarantus to explore the full breadth of the MANF opportunity," said Gerald E. Commissiong, President & CEO of Amarantus. "As our development program for Parkinson's progresses towards the critical milestone of identifying the best delivery target(s) for MANF, identifying additional disease targets for MANF therapy could significantly increase the value of our intellectual property portfolio and make Amarantus more attractive to potential partners."

----------------------------------------------

8K dated 04/01/13
On March 26, 2013, the Company and Generex Biotechnology Corporation entered into an agreement of termination and release terminating the letter agreement between them dated May 30, 2011. A copy of the Agreement of Termination and Release is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1.

AGREEMENT OF TERMINATION AND RELEASE, made this 26th day of March 2013 (the “Agreement”), by and between Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (“Amarantus”) and Generex Biotechnology Corporation (“Generex”). Amarantus and Generex collectively shall be referred to as the “Parties.”

WHEREAS, the Parties hereto entered into a Letter Agreement dated as of May 30, 2011 (the “Letter Agreement”), which, among other things, contains certain rights, obligations, and duties of the Parties; and

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to mutually terminate the Letter Agreement;

WHEREAS, each of the Parties desires to release each of the other Parties from any and all claims in connection with or relating to the Letter Agreement;

----------------------------------------------

Patent Filing 01/23/13
Patent: Soluble manf in pancreatic beta-cell disorders
Inventors: Fumihiko Urano
Applicant: University of Massachusetts

----------------------------------------------

Article dated 8/7/2013
Professor Mart Saarmareceives $ 495 000 for diabetes research

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has awarded a research grant of $ 495 000 for three years for supporting a collaborative team headed by Professor Mart Saarma at the Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki and Professor Timo Otonkoski at Biomedicum Stem Cell Center. The aim of the project is to study therapeutic potential of neurotrophic factor MANF (Mesencephalic Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor) in preclinical research for type 1 diabetes. The therapeutic effect of MANF will be studied using rodent and human pancreatic islets, b -cell lines and in rodent models of diabetes.

Professor Mart Saarma's team is currently studying the structure, biology and therapeutic potential of neurotrophic factors GDNF, CDNF and MANF for neurodegenerative diseases. The indication for neurotrophic factor MANF to be a candidate therapeutic factor for diabetes came from Dr. Maria Lindahl´s work (Saarma group, Institute of Biotechnology). These studies showed that Manf-deficient mice were diabetic due to progressive loss of insulin-producing pancreatic b -cells. The team in the collaborative project includes top experts in the fields of endocrinology, neurosciences and genetic engineering of mice.One of the main goals in type 1 diabetes therapy is to define a method for functional b -cell proliferation and regeneration.

"We have found that MANF can protect and stimulate proliferation of b -cells in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes. In addition, we generated mice which lack MANF protein, resulting in development of T1D. Since MANF has direct effects of mouse b -cells and is expressed and regulated in human b - cells we hope that MANF has therapeutic potential for the treatment of T1D, where b -cell protecting and regenerating therapies are not available" says Professor Mart Saarma.

----------------------------------------------

Email From Dr. Urano 12/5/13
"We believe that our research on MANF will lead to a novel treatment for Wolfram and other neurodegenerative diseases."

----------------------------------------------

GC Tweet 4/8/14
@MainePerks: is $NVS tinkering with MANF?
@G_Commish: I cannot discuss, sorry. Thanks for your interest.