Boston Life Sciences Sponsors Movement Disorder Society's 1st Annual Neuroimaging In Parkinson's Disease Symposium

Main Category: Parkinson's Disease
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  MRI / PET / Ultrasound;  Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Article Date: 02 Feb 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLSI) announced today that it will be a major sponsor of the 1st Annual Neuroimaging in Parkinson's Disease Symposium. The symposium will be held on February 2nd - 3rd, 2007, in Innsbruck, Austria, under the auspices of The Movement Disorder Society.

Dr. Mark Hurtt, Chief Medical Officer of Boston Life Sciences, commented, "Until now, Boston Life Sciences has been developing ALTROPANE(R) molecular imaging agent in the U.S. only. Given the positive results from the POET-1 trial announced in September 2006, we are seeking to advance ALTROPANE on a global basis. We believe that this meeting will allow us to elevate ALTROPANE's profile in Europe and foster relationships with European leaders in nuclear medicine and Parkinson's Disease, or PD, with the goal of accelerating the launch and expansion of our ALTROPANE clinical program in Europe later this year."

The program for the symposium features a faculty of leading international PD experts who will discuss the potential of different imaging modalities and techniques based on nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as ultrasound technology as they relate to research, clinical diagnoses, monitoring of disease progression and monitoring treatment interventions of patients with Parkinsonism. The Executive Organizing Committee of the symposium consists of Werner Poewe, MD, Kenneth Marek, MD and Eduardo Tolosa, MD, FRCP, all noted experts in PD and neuroimaging.

About ALTROPANE(R) Molecular Imaging Agent

ALTROPANE ([I-123]-E-IACFT Injection) is a molecular imaging agent that specifically binds to the dopamine transporter (DAT) protein found on the surface of dopamine-producing neurons, making it visible during Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, or SPECT, imaging. Since most forms of Parkinsonian Syndromes (PS) result in a decreased number of dopamine-producing cells, it would be expected that these patients also have fewer DATs than do patients without PS. Thus, we believe that ALTROPANE used in conjunction with SPECT imaging could be a useful test to distinguish Parkinsonian Syndrome tremors from non-Parkinsonian tremor: non-Parkinsonian patients would have more ALTROPANE-binding visible in the SPECT image, while Parkinsonian patients would have less. In September 2006, BLSI reported the results from the ALTROPANE Phase III trial, POET-1. These results demonstrated that ALTROPANE showed statistically significant superiority over the diagnosis of a primary care physician on measures of both specificity and sensitivity.

Experts estimate that each year approximately 140,000 individuals present to their physician with new, undiagnosed movement disorders such as Parkinson's Disease and Essential Tremor. The International Essential Tremor Foundation estimates that as many as 10 million people in the United States are afflicted by Essential Tremor. In 2002, the European Journal of Neurology reported that there is a 20- to 30-percent misdiagnosis rate in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. Other publications have reported even higher rates of misdiagnosis. We believe that the accurate differentiation of Parkinsonian from non-Parkinsonian tremors has important clinical implications. Physicians may be able to initiate earlier referral for specialty care, prescribe effective treatments, and provide a more-informed prognosis for patients and their families. If these trials are successful and the drug is approved, we believe that ALTROPANE could be a highly-selective CNS diagnostic molecular imaging agent -- a valuable tool to help clinicians make better, more-accurate diagnoses.

About Boston Life Sciences

Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (BLSI) is engaged in the research and clinical development of diagnostic and therapeutic products for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. ALTROPANE(R) molecular imaging agent is currently in Phase III clinical trials for the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) and in Phase II clinical trials for the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Cethrin(R), a recombinant protein drug designed to promote nerve repair after acute spinal cord injury, has reported positive interim results in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial in the U.S. and Canada. The company's research and pre-clinical CNS programs include Inosine for the treatment of spinal cord injury and stroke, a DAT blocker for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, and a second generation technetium-based molecular imaging agent for PD and ADHD. BLSI's current research collaborations include Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston.

Safe Harbor

The foregoing release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward- looking statements include statements regarding Boston Life Sciences' future expectations, beliefs, intentions, goals, strategies, plans or prospects regarding the future, including the development of the ALTROPANE clinical program, and the breadth of the Company's technologies and intellectual property portfolio. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "could increase the likelihood," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is planned," "may," "should," "will," "will enable," "would be expected," "look forward," "may provide," "would" or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including those risks, uncertainties and factors referred to in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the section "Risk Factors," as well as other documents that may be filed by Boston Life Sciences from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of such risks, uncertainties and factors, the Company's actual results may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Boston Life Sciences is providing the information in this press release as of this date and assumes no obligations to update the information in this press release.

Boston Life Sciences, Inc.
http://www.bostonlifesciences.com

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