Full Press Release Details
Prana's PBT434 Lowers Alpha-Synuclein
and Prevents Neurodegeneration
Scientific Journal Acta Neuropathologica
publishes pre-clinical data
MELBOURNE, Australia, and San Francisco USA 3 July 2017:
Prana Biotechnology Ltd (ASX PBT: NASDAQ PRAN) today announced the article "The novel compound PBT434 prevents iron-mediated
neurodegeneration and alpha-synuclein toxicity in multiple models of Parkinson's disease" was accepted for publication
in the peer reviewed journal Acta Neuropathologica Communications. The peer reviewed article can be accessed from the following
The publication is the culmination of ten years of research
from scientists at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, (Melbourne, Australia), investigating compounds from
Prana Biotechnology's propriety chemical library. The novel drug candidate PBT434 is the first of a new generation of small
molecules from the quinazolinone class of drugs that was specifically designed to block the accumulation and aggregation of alpha-synuclein,
an abundant brain protein widely believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and related disorders.
Not only was PBT434 shown to block alpha-synuclein accumulation,
but it also prevented loss of nerve cells in the region of the brain primarily affected in Parkinson's disease, called the
substantia nigra. To investigate the therapeutic potential of PBT434 to slow neurodegeneration, the researchers performed
extensive animal testing in multiple Parkinson's disease models, including tests in mice that over-expressed the alpha-synuclein
protein. These results showed that PBT434 lowered alpha-synuclein and its toxic effects and simultaneously improved motor performance.
If these findings are also observed in patients with diseases
caused by alpha-synuclein, PBT434 could address a significant unmet medical need in preventing their progression.
The key findings from the publication in Acta Neuropathologica
David Stamler, M.D., Prana's Chief Medical Officer and
Senior Vice President, Clinical Development said: "These findings are important because Parkinson's disease and the
related synucleinopathies cause significant disability and diminish the independence of afflicted individuals. An agent which slows
disease progression could have a great impact on reducing disease burden and improving quality of life. We are eager to begin clinical
The required animal testing has been completed and PBT434 is expected to begin human testing in a Phase 1 trial later this year.
| Investor Relations | Media |
| Rebecca Wilson | Scott Newstead |
| E: rwilson@buchanwe.com.au | E: snewstead@buchanwe.com.au |
| Tp: +61 3 9866 4722 | Tp: +61 3 9866 4722 |
About Prana Biotechnology Limited
Prana Biotechnology was established to
commercialise research into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington disease, and Parkinsonian disease.
The Company was incorporated in 1997 and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in March 2000 and listed on NASDAQ in September
2002. Researchers at prominent international institutions including The University of Melbourne, The Mental Health Research Institute
(Melbourne) and Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, contributed to the discovery of
For further information please visit the
Company's web site at www.pranabio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934. The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects," "intends,"
"hopes," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "may," "evidences" and
"estimates," and other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.
Such statements include, but are not limited to any statements relating to the Company's drug development program, including, but
not limited to the initiation, progress and outcomes of clinical trials of the Company's drug development program, including, but
not limited to, PBT2, and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties,
including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to the difficulties or delays in financing, development,
testing, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the Company's drug components, including, but not limited to, PBT2,
the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic
efficacy of the Company's drug compounds, including, but not limited to, PBT2, that could slow or prevent products coming to market,
the uncertainty of patent protection for the Company's intellectual property or trade secrets, including, but not limited to, the
intellectual property relating to PBT2, and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings the Company makes with Securities
and Exchange Commission including its annual reports on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K. Such statements are based on management's
current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factions including those risks and uncertainties
mentioned or referred to in this press release. Accordingly, you should not rely on those forward-looking statements as a prediction
of actual future results.