Business Wire
REGENERX BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (AMEX:RGN) (www.regenerx.com) reported today that researchers at the Institute of Biopharmaceutical Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, found that administering TB4 up-regulates anti-oxidative enzymes in human corneal epithelial cells supporting its role in corneal protection and resistance to oxidative damage. Oxidants, such as free radicals, are believed to cause tissue damage at the cellular level and harm DNA, mitochondria, and cell membranes, which can lead to pathologies such as skin deterioration, premature aging, and cancer. Anti-oxidants are the subject of a substantial amount of research in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries because of their protective effects on tissues.
The researchers suggest that TB4's ability to protect cells against oxidative damage is due to cellular internalization, or the ability to migrate inside cells, which they deemed "essential" for TB4's protective effects. The paper entitled, "Thymosin beta-4 up-regulates anti-oxidative enzymes and protects human corneal epithelial cells against oxidative damage," Ho, et al., was initially published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, May 14, 2008.
"This interesting study from an independent research group in Taiwan further expands the research we and others have conducted and shows yet again TB4's effects in protecting and repairing tissues - in this case the cornea," explained Dr. Gabriel Sosne, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Kresge Eye Institute in Detroit, MI, and a member of RegeneRx's Medical and Scientific Advisory Board.
About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
RegeneRx is focused on the discovery and development of novel molecules to accelerate tissue and organ repair. Currently, RegeneRx is developing three product candidates, RGN-137, RGN-259 and RGN-352 for dermal, ophthalmic, and cardiovascular wound healing, respectively. These product candidates are based on TB4, a 43-amino acid, naturally occurring peptide, in part, under an exclusive world-wide license from the National Institutes of Health. RegeneRx holds over 60 world-wide patents and patent applications related to its technology and is currently sponsoring three Phase II chronic dermal wound healing clinical trials, a Phase II ophthalmic wound healing clinical trial, and a Phase IA parenteral (injectable) clinical trial supporting systemic delivery of RGN-352 for cardiovascular indications.
RegeneRx Technology Backgrounder
TB4 is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring peptide present in virtually all human cells. It is a first-in-class multi-faceted molecule that promotes endothelial cell differentiation, angiogenesis in dermal tissues, keratinocyte migration, collagen deposition, and down-regulates inflammation. RegeneRx has identified several molecular variations of TB4 that may affect the aging of skin, among other properties, and could be important candidates as active ingredients in pharmaceutical and consumer products. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health, and at other academic institutions throughout the U.S., have published numerous scientific articles indicating TB4's in vitro and in vivo efficacy in accelerating wound healing and tissue protection under a variety of conditions. Abstracts of scientific papers related to TB4's mechanisms of action may be viewed at RegeneRx's web page: www.regenerx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Examples of such forward-looking statements include statements concerning the therapeutic potential of TB4. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements include the risk that although TB4 has demonstrated potential therapeutic benefit for wound healing and cardioprotection, the Company's product candidates may not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in clinical trials, the risk that encouraging results from early research, preclinical studies or clinical trials may not be confirmed upon further analysis of the detailed results of such research, preclinical study or clinical trial, the risk that additional information relating to the safety, efficacy or tolerability of our product candidates may be discovered upon further analysis of preclinical or clinical trial data, the risk that the company's or its collaborators will not obtain approval to market the company's product candidates, the risks associated with reliance on outside financing to meet capital requirements, the risks associated with reliance on collaborators for the funding or conduct of further development and commercialization activities relating to the Company's product candidates, and such other risks described in the company's annual report on Form 10-K, and other filings the company makes with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
J.J. Finkelstein, 301-280-1992
[email protected]