DispersinB(TM) for Treating Antibiotic Resistant Swine Pleuropneumoniae
A study published by Dr. Kaplan's team from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 07/30/07 -- Kane Biotech Inc. (TSX VENTURE: KNE), a biotechnology company engaged in the development of products that prevent and disperse microbial biofilms, is pleased to announce a research publication from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) on studies using DispersinB(TM) against field isolates of the swine pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. The paper appeared in the recent online edition of the 'Microbial Pathogenesis' journal.
The research findings reported in the publication, entitled "Poly-N-acetylglucosamine mediates biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae" by Izano et al., co-authored by Dr. Kaplan from UMDNJ, demonstrates that the mechanism of biofilm formation in A. pleuropneumoniae is similar to that of E. coli, S. aureus and S. epidermidis.
"We found that pre-treatment of A. pleuropneumoniae biofilms with DispersinB(TM) makes them almost 10 times more sensitive to killing by ampicillin antibiotic as compared to treatment with antibiotic alone" stated Dr. Kaplan. "This indicates that biofilm-embedded A. pleuropneumoniae, an animal pathogen associated with the severe and contagious respiratory disease pleuropneumoniae in pigs, is resistant to the current widely used antibiotic therapy."
"Antibiotic resistance is a significant problem when attempting to treat infections involving biofilms with conventional drugs. DispersinB(TM) has now shown to be very effective in degrading the biofilm and making the bacteria more susceptible to antibiotic/antimicrobial therapies and to host's immune responses" stated Gord Froehlich, President and CEO of Kane Biotech. "This publication further demonstrates the effectiveness of DispersinB(TM) as it can now be seen as a viable option for biofilm control in not only human and industrial applications but also for animal bacterial infections involving biofilms".
DispersinB(TM) was discovered by Dr. Kaplan at UMDNJ and this patent pending technology has been exclusively licensed to Kane Biotech on a global basis for medical, industrial, agricultural and environmental applications.
About Dr. Jeffrey Kaplan
Jeffrey Kaplan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1980 and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the same institution in 1985. He received postdoctoral training in the Department of Microbiology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y., and in the Department of Microbiology at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, N.Y. Dr. Kaplan worked for 10 years in the Oncology Department at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Pearl River, N.Y., before joining the Department of Oral Biology at New Jersey Dental School in 1999.
Dr. Kaplan's lab is studying the detachment and dispersal of bacterial cells from biofilms with an emphasis on the gram-negative periodontal pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. His research is funded by several grant agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA. His discovery of DispersinB(TM) supported by an NIH grant was listed in the "NIH Annual Performance Report of 2004" as one of the thirteen achievements of the year.
About Kane Biotech Inc.
Kane Biotech is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of products to prevent and disperse bacterial biofilms. Biofilms develop when bacteria, and other microorganisms, form a protective matrix that acts as a shield against attack. When in a biofilm, bacteria become highly resistant to antibiotics, biocides, disinfectants, high temperatures and host immune responses. This resiliency contributes to human health problems such as recurrent urinary tract infections, medical device associated infections and tooth decay. Kane Biotech Inc. uses a patent protected technology based on molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation and methods for finding compounds that inhibit or disrupt biofilms. The Company has evidence that this technology has potential to significantly improve the ability to prevent and/or destroy biofilms in several medical and industrial applications.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, our objectives, goals, targets, strategies, intentions, plans, beliefs, estimates and outlook, including, without limitation, our anticipated future operating results, and can, in some cases, be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "will," "may" and other similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements.
These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things: Kane's early stage of development, lack of product revenues and history of operating losses, uncertainties related to clinical trials and product development, rapid technological change, uncertainties related to forecasts, competition, potential product liability, additional financing requirements and access to capital, unproven markets, supply of raw materials, income tax matters, management of growth, partnerships for development and commercialization of technology, effects of insurers' willingness to pay for products, system failures, dependence on key personnel, foreign currency risk, risks related to regulatory matters and risks related to intellectual property and other risks detailed from time to time in Kane's filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, as well as Kane's ability to anticipate and manage the risks associated with the foregoing. Kane cautions that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on Kane's forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Kane, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.
These risks and uncertainties should be considered carefully and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Kane cannot provide assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Kane undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts: Kane Biotech Inc. Justin Gagnon Investor Relations Professional (204) 478-5602 (204) 453-1314 (FAX) Email: jgagnon@kanebiotech.com Website: www.kanebiotech.com
Released July 30, 2007