Cyclosporin Human Neuroprotection Validated By Maas Biolab Scientists

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 18 Nov 2008 - 9:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Maas Biolab researchers CSO Eskil Elmér, M.D., Ph.D. and neuroscientist Magnus Hansson, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues have for the first time ever demonstrated the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) or "megapore" occurs in viable adult human neuron mitochondria and the ability of cyclosporin-A to block its formation. These effects had previously been well characterized in animal neuroprotection studies and have now been validated in human brain tissue. The findings were presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, November 15, 2008. 32,000 attended this meeting, the premiere venue for world neuroscientists' cutting-edge research.

Cyclosporin-A is neuroprotective through its effects on mitochondria. Attacked mitochondria normally stop making ATP and release toxic factors that activate caspases and apoptosis genes, killing the neuron. This cell death is caused by the formation of the mPT megapore. The mPT megapore can only form if it has cyclophilin-D available. Cyclosporin-A binds up all cyclophilin-D within each mitochondrion. Cyclosporin-A treated mitochondria continue to function normally, even while under attack, from conditions ranging from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to brain trauma. This is now confirmed in the human brain, reinforcing the expected effectiveness for cyclosporin-A in people with neurological diseases.

Cyclosporin-A is the active ingredient in Maas Biolab's Mitogard® intrathecal formula developed to treat ALS. Maas partner NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB is producing NeuroSTAT®, an intravenous cyclosporin-A formula for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. This research confirms cyclosporin-A is an effective human neuromitochondrial protectant.

Maas Biolab, LLC

Maas Biolab is a private pharmaceutical company in Albuquerque, NM, USA developing Mitogard®, the only cyclosporin formula designed for CSF delivery, to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Maas Biolab holds world patents for cyclosporin neuroprotection against chronic neurological diseases and FDA Orphan Drug Designation for cyclosporin to treat ALS http://www.maasbiolab.com. NeuroVive Pharmaceutical AB is a publicly-held partner listed on the Swedish Aktietorget stock exchange producing NeuroSTAT®, a patented intravenous cyclosporin formula to treat traumatic brain injury. NeuroVive holds world patents for cyclosporin neuroprotection against acute neurologic injury http://www.neurovive.com.