UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
April 29, 2015
AMARANTUS BIOSCIENCE HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in
its charter)
Nevada |
000-55016 |
26-0690857 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
655 Montgomery Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA |
94111 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
(Zip Code) |
(408) 737-2734
(Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act |
| ¨ | Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
On April
29, 2015, Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that the European Commission,
acting on the positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP),
has granted orphan drug status for MANF (mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor) for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa
(RP). A copy of the Company’s press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
|
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|
99.1
|
|
Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. Press Release, dated April
29, 2015. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.
|
AMARANTUS BIOSCIENCE HOLDINGS, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: April 29, 2015 |
By: |
/s/ Gerald E. Commissiong |
|
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Name: Gerald E. Commissiong |
|
|
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
Amarantus
Granted European Union Orphan Drug Designation for MANF for the Treatment of Retinitis
Pigmentosa
SAN
FRANCISCO, CA, and GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – April 29, 2015 - Amarantus BioScience Holdings,
Inc. (OTCQB: AMBS), a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutic and
diagnostic products for neurological disorders and orphan indications, announced that the European Commission, acting on the positive
recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP), has granted orphan drug
status for MANF (mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor) for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). RP refers
to a group of inherited diseases causing retinal degeneration often leading to blindness. The
Company previously announced in December of 2014 that it also received orphan drug designation for MANF for the treatment of RP
from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“We are extremely pleased to have
received European orphan drug status for our promising investigational product, MANF in RP,” said Gerald E. Commissiong,
President & CEO of Amarantus BioScience Holdings, Inc. “This EU orphan designation, combined with our recent U.S. orphan
designation, positions MANF for an accelerated global regulatory product development pathway to address the significant unmet need
in this important ophthalmologic indication.”
Orphan drug designation by the European
Commission provides regulatory and financial incentives for companies to develop and market therapies that treat a life-threatening
or chronically debilitating condition affecting no more than five in 10,000 persons in the European Union (EU), and where no satisfactory
treatment is available. In addition to a 10-year period of marketing exclusivity in the EU after product approval, orphan drug
designation provides incentives for companies seeking protocol assistance from the EMA during the product development phase, and
direct access to the centralized authorization procedure.
David A. Lowe, Ph.D., member of the Amarantus
Board Directors, commented, “We believe MANF has potential as a promising potential treatment in multiple orphan ophthalmologic
disorders. We intend to continue pursuing the orphan regulatory pathway for MANF as we move this program forward.”
About Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group
of inherited diseases causing retinal degeneration often leading to blindness. The retina lines the inside back wall of the eye
and is responsible for capturing images from the visual field. People with RP experience a gradual decline in their vision because
photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) die. Symptoms include a progressive degeneration of peripheral and night vision, as well as
a reduction in color perception and central vision. Night blindness is one of the earliest and most frequent symptoms of RP.
RP is typically diagnosed in adolescents
and young adults. The rate of progression and degree of visual loss varies from person to person. Most people with RP are legally
blind by age 40.
About Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived
Neurotrophic Factor (MANF)
MANF (mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic
factor) is believed to have broad potential because it is a naturally-occurring protein produced by the body for the purpose of
reducing and preventing apoptosis (cell death) in response to injury or disease, via the unfolded protein response. By manufacturing
MANF and administering it to the body, Amarantus is seeking to use a regenerative medicine approach to assist the body with higher
quantities of MANF when needed. Amarantus is the front-runner and primary holder of intellectual property around MANF, and is initially
focusing on the development of MANF-based protein therapeutics.
MANF's lead indication is retinitis pigmentosa,
and additional indications including Parkinson's disease, diabetes and Wolfram's syndrome are currently pursued. Further applications
for MANF may include Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, myocardial infarction, antibiotic-induced ototoxicity and certain
other rare orphan diseases currently under evaluation.
About Amarantus BioScience Holdings,
Inc.
Amarantus BioScience Holdings (AMBS) is
a biotechnology company developing treatments and diagnostics for diseases in the areas of neurology, psychiatry, ophthalmology
and regenerative medicine. AMBS’ Therapeutics division has development rights to eltoprazine, a Phase 2b ready small molecule
indicated for Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia, adult ADHD and Alzheimer’s aggression, and owns the intellectual
property rights to a therapeutic protein known as mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) and is developing
MANF-based products as treatments for brain and ophthalmic disorders. AMBS’ Diagnostics division owns the rights to MSPrecise®,
a proprietary next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) assay for the identification of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
(RRMS) at first clinical presentation, has an exclusive worldwide license to the Lymphocyte Proliferation test (LymPro Test®)
for Alzheimer's disease, which was developed by Prof. Thomas Arendt, Ph.D., from the University of Leipzig, and owns intellectual
property for the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (NuroPro). AMBS also owns the discovery of neurotrophic factors (PhenoGuard™)
that led to MANF’s discovery.
For further information please visit www.Amarantus.com,
or connect with the Company on Facebook, LinkedIn,
Twitter and Google+.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements, other than purely historical
information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results,
and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally
are identified by the words "believes," "project," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates,"
"intends," "strategy," "plan," "may," "will," "would," "will be,"
"will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from
the forward-looking statements. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently
uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects on a consolidated basis include,
but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, availability of capital, interest rates,
competition, and generally accepted accounting principles. These risks and uncertainties should also be considered in evaluating
forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.
Investor and Media Contact:
Jenene Thomas
Jenene Thomas Communications, LLC
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Advisor
T: (US) 908.938.1475
E: jenene@jenenethomascommunications.com
Source: Amarantus Bioscience Holdings,
Inc.
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