Kane Biotech Releases a Report from Recent Research on the Ability of DispersinB(TM) to Combat Biofilms and Its Application in Wound Care
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 09/04/07 -- Kane Biotech's (TSX VENTURE: KNE) Chief Scientific Officer prepares a report on the recent research related to the potential application of the Company's DispersinB(TM) technology together with bacteriophage for biofilm-based chronic wound treatment. There is increasing evidence that biofilm formation in wounds is the main reason for the failure of chronic wounds to heal, because biofilm-embedded bacteria are resistant to antibiotic/antimicrobial treatments and also to host immune responses.
DispersinB(TM) enzyme inhibits and disperses the biofilms of important wound-associated pathogens such as S. aureus, S. epidermidis and E. coli. This unique ability of DispersinB(TM) makes it a first of its kind antibiofilm technology with applications in chronic wound care.
The recent research conducted by The Southwest Regional Wound Care Center and also by the Harvard-MIT and Boston University team has shown that DispersinB(TM) in combination with bacteriophage is highly effective against biofilm-embedded bacteria. The highlights of their research findings can be summarized as follows:
- Dr. Wolcott's team at the Southwest Regional Wound Care Center in Lubbock, Texas formulated a composition comprising DispersinB(TM) and a lytic bacteriophage mixture. This DispersinB(TM) and bacteriophage mixture showed almost 99% inhibition of E. coli biofilm as compared to only 9% inhibition by the phage mixture alone.
- Timothy K. Lu of Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and James J. Collins of Boston University published their study in The Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS. 104: 11197-11202, 2007). Lu and Collins engineered E. coli T7 bacteriophage to express DispersinB(TM) in order to simultaneously attack the bacterial cells in the biofilm. This DispersinB(TM)-expressing bacteriophage removed almost 100% of bacterial biofilm, which were two orders of magnitude better than that of bacteriophage alone.
In this two-pronged strategy, DispersinB(TM) makes biofilm-embedded bacteria more susceptible to bacteriophage by inhibiting or dispersing the biofilms and then the lytic bacteriophage invades bacterial cells and disrupts the metabolism of the bacteria. "These studies on DispersinB(TM) and bacteriophage mixture combinations and DispersinB(TM)-expressing bacteriophage provide a novel strategy for treating chronic wounds which is more effective than the current antibiotic/antimicrobial therapies" stated Dr. Sri Madhyastha, Chief Scientific Officer of Kane Biotech.
The potential applications of DispersinB(TM) and Bacteriophage combinations include:
(i)treatment of acute and chronic wounds in humans and animals (acute wounds include: surgical wounds, bites, burns, minor cuts and abrasions, and more severe traumatic wounds such as lacerations and those caused by crush or gun shot injuries; chronic wounds include: venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure sores or impaired venous drainage, and bedsores)
(ii)food and feed additives, cosmetics, disinfectants and device coatings
(iii) an effective and safe substitute for the current antibiotic use in livestock
(iv) other industrial, environmental, agricultural and medical uses
For the detailed report, visit www.kanebiotech.com/investor_overview.htm or contact Justin Gagnon, Manager, Investor Relations by calling 204-478-5602 or emailing jgagnon@kanebiotech.com with the request.
About Chronic Wounds
The healing of chronic wounds is a huge unmet clinical need that costs the United States health care system $20 billion per year. In the United Kingdom, management of bedsores costs approximately 3-4 billion dollars annually, which is over 4% of the total National Health Service expenditure. The incidence of chronic wounds including diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, bedsores, and surgical site infections are increasing at alarming rates and clinical evidence indicates improved healing when chronic wounds are treated with the assumption that biofilms are the cause of the failure to heal.
About Kane Biotech Inc.
Kane Biotech is a biotechnology company engaged in the development of products to prevent and disperse microbial 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 nosocomial infections and tooth decay.
Kane Biotech Inc. uses a patent protected technology based on molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation/dispersal and methods for finding compounds that inhibit or disrupt biofilms. The Company has evidence that this technology has potential to prevent and/or destroy biofilms, and significantly enhance the performance of currently used antibiotics/antimicrobials and biocides in clinical and industrial settings.
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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.
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Contacts: Kane Biotech Inc. Justin Gagnon Manager, Investor Relations (204) 478-5602 (204) 453-1314 (FAX) Email: jgagnon@kanebiotech.com Website: www.kanebiotech.com
Released September 4, 2007