Pharmaceuticals
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Maas BiolAB Announce CRADA
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The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Maas BiolAB, LLC announced the signing of their Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) to develop cyclosporin neuroprotection in indications relevant to military casualties and Homeland Security. These indications include battlefield traumatic brain injury and military or civilian exposure to nerve agents. Since 2003, Maas BiolAB, under a Material Transfer Agreement with Walter Reed, provided its cyclosporin neuroprotection formula for severe traumatic brain injury studies. Under the terms of the CRADA, Maas BiolAB and WRAIR will further collaborate to develop the Maas patented cyclosporin neuroprotection formula NeuroSTAT(R) in models of military traumatic brain injury and nerve gas poisoning.
Traumatic Brain Injury and Cyclosporin
The unique WRAIR double-insult model of brain trauma and simultaneous hypoxia closely simulates the real life battlefield-injured soldier who may have a delay before reaching advanced medical care. Initial work by WRAIR indicates that the Maas cyclosporin formula is highly neuroprotectant. Lead WRAIR scientists Richard A. Bauman Ph.D. and Joseph B. Long Ph.D. presented their research at the 2004 annual meeting of the Society for Neurotrauma in San Diego, California. Research conducted by Drs. Bauman and Long, with support from Maas scientists Eskil Elmer, M.D., Ph.D. and Marcus Keep, M.D., demonstrated that brain function, memory, learning, and retention rates are dramatically improved in animal models when cyclosporin treats traumatic brain injury. Cyclosporin is a mitochondrial neuroprotectant that can cross the blood-brain barrier of the cerebrum injured by projectile, blast and blunt force. NeuroSTAT(R) could be administered by intravenous injection to brain injured soldiers by first-responder battlefield paramedics to stop further brain damage.
Organophosphate Nerve Agents and Cyclosporin
Dr. Bauman presented the results of his research using cyclosporin against organophosphate nerve agent injury to the NATO Task Group on Prophylaxis and Therapy Against Chemical Agents meeting in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic in May 2005. Drs. Bauman, Long and Debra Yourick, Ph.D., also of WRAIR, performed the nerve agent research with contributions by Drs. Elmer and Keep. Bauman's research team demonstrated that cyclosporin dramatically reduces organophosphate induced brain damage in the rat. Cyclosporin reduced seizures, and protected the brain. The preserved brain structures correlated with near normal retained memory and learning ability.
The intense seizures produced by nerve agents opens the blood-brain barrier to cyclosporin, and allows simple intravenous administration for NeuroSTAT(R) cyclosporin to get into the brain to protect neurons and memory. Multiple civilian or military casualties from a bioterror nerve agent exposure could all be rapidly treated with NeuroSTAT(R) by intravenous injections.
Maas BiolAB and WRAIR are working together towards bringing NeuroSTAT(R) cyclosporin neuroprotection to clinical approval for treating military and civilian casualties from traumatic brain injury and nerve agent exposure.
The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), is the largest and most diverse biomedical research laboratory in the U.S. Department of Defense. WRAIR conducts biomedical research on a range of military issues including combat casualty care, and medical defense against biological and chemical weapons that sustain the combat effectiveness of the warfighter. In the more than one hundred years since its beginning, WRAIR's military and civilian staff have made contributions of great importance to military and civilian medicine (wrair-www.army.mil).
Maas BiolAB, LLC is a privately held pharmaceutical corporation based in Albuquerque, NM, USA developing cyclosporin neuroprotection drugs for brain diseases. Maas BiolAB, LLC, in participation with its subsidiary NeuroPharma AB, is developing NeuroSTAT(R), a proprietary non-toxic intravenous cyclosporin formula for acute neurological indications from traumatic brain injury to neurotoxin exposure. Maas Biolab, LLC, in participation with its subsidiary Maas Biolab, Inc, is developing Mitogard(TM), a proprietary cyclosporin formula designed for implantable pump long-term delivery into the cerebrospinal fluid to treat neurodegenerative diseases (www.maasbiolab.com).
Maas BiolAB, LLC
Michael Vickers, 505-843-4230
or
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Debra Yourick, 301-319-9471
Reprinted with permisiion. © Business Wire 2005