Titan Pharmaceuticals' subsidiary Theracell, Inc. signs licensing agreement
with University of South Florida College of Medicine forthe continued
development of Sertoli cells; Findings Presented at the American Society of
Neural Source: Business Wire
MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) via Individual Inc. -- TITAN
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (NASDAQ NM: TTNP, TTNPU AND TTNPW), today announced
that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Theracell Inc., has signed a licensing
agreement with the University of South Florida College of Medicine ("USF")
to develop Sertoli cell technology for the restorative treatment of
degenerative and traumatic brain disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's
and Huntington's disease, stroke and spinal injury.
Under the terms of the agreement, Theracell will obtain an exclusive
worldwide license and invest at least $1.5 million in Sertoli cell
technology over the next two years. Theracell will be granted the rights
to additional technology developed as a result of Sertoli cell research
conducted with U.S.F. Sertoli cell technology, particularly applications
related to traumatic and neurodegenerative disorders, is covered broadly in
U.S. and foreign patent applications licensed exclusively to Theracell by
USF.
Sertoli cells are normally found in the testes and provide immune protection
and nutritional support to sperm as they mature.
Theracell's program is designed to develop the therapeutic potential of
Sertoli cells, which appear to restore damaged brain tissue and may enhance
the survival of other cells transplanted into the central nervous system.
In preliminary animal studies at USF, researchers have demonstrated that
transplanted Sertoli cells produce functional recovery from the symptoms of
Parkinson's disease. Clinical trials testing the safety and effectiveness
of Sertoli cell transplantation in humans are about two years away.
"We are exploring the first, potential use of Sertoli cells for
neurological treatment," said Paul Sanberg, Ph.D., professor and director
of neurosurgical research at USF. "The unique cell holds promise both for
helping to keep transplanted cells alive and for replacing cells lost to
spinal cord injury, stroke or neurodegenerative diseases such as
Parkinson's and Alzheimer's."
"The most exciting potential of this new technology," said Richard C.
Allen, Ph.D., president and CEO of Theracell, Inc., "is to restore the
function of damaged brain tissue, which is not achievable with present
therapies."
Findings Presented at American Society of Neural Transplantation Conference
Appear Promising At the American Society for Neural Transplantation
Conference in Clearwater, Fla., April 25 to 27, USF researchers presented
their findings of a novel study in which Sertoli cells were successfully
transplanted into the brains of rats with symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
When Sertoli cells were transplanted into the brains of rats along with
dopamine-producing cells, the Sertoli cells protected the cross-species
dopamine cells without the need for long-term immunosuppression. Dopamine
is a neurotransmitter essential for control of movements, which is lost in
Parkinson's disease.
In addition, Sertoli cells alone transplanted into brains of rats with
symptoms of Parkinson's disease restored normal motor function. The
researchers suspect the secretion of growth factors by Sertoli cells may
somehow promote increased production of dopamine by remaining nerve cells
to compensate for the loss of damaged cells.
Both the transplanted rat Sertoli cells and the dopamine cells thrived in
the brain and did not trigger an adverse immune reaction in the rats.
One of the biggest challenges of transplantation is protecting the
transplanted tissue, which is recognized by the recipient's immune system
as foreign, from rejection. Significant doses of cyclosporine,
administered to suppress the immune system so transplants can survive,
often have harmful side effects.
Sertoli cells may reduce or eliminate the need for such immunosuppresive
drugs.
Titan Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that develops
proprietary therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, nervous system
disorders and other life-threatening diseases. The company's operations
are currently conducted through four operating companies: Ansan (Nasdaq:
ANSN, ANSNU), Ingenex,
Theracell and ProNeura.
CONTACT: Kristen Mahan | Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc. |
212-838-3777 |
or | Louis Bucalo, M.D. | CEO & President | Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
415-617-2090
[05-09-96 at 08:16 EDT, Business Wire]
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REPORT #2
Metronome may help Parkinson's sufferers - report@ (Release at 2300 GMT May
9)
Source: Reuters
LONDON, The Reuters World Service via Individual Inc. : Metronomes can help
people with Parkinson's disease walk better, German researchers reported on
Friday.
Wolfgang Enzensberger and Peter Fischer of the Goethe University Hospital in
Frankfurt studied 22 patients with Parkinson's, which causes shaky muscles.
It affects about one percent of all people over 60 and can make it hard for
them to walk.
``Patients were tested under conditions of free walk; metronome stimulation
(rate 96 beats per minute); traditional march music; modern march music
(Prokofiev); and tactile stimulation (tapping rhythmically on the patient's
shoulder),'' the researchers wrote in a letter to the Lancet medical
journal.
The metronome helped patients take longer, less faltering steps. Musical
stimulation was less helpful and tapping the patients on the shoulder made
them worse.
The researchers said the patients liked the metronome. ``Several said that
they would like to use a portable electronic metronome in their daily life
for critical situations, such as crossing a road,'' they concluded. REUTER@
[05-09-96 at 16:28 EDT, Copyright 1996, Reuters America Inc.]
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Maybe we can implement this idea for our next "walk-a-thon" -- it would be a
definite 'attention getter'.
Regards,
Margaret Tuchman
