biOasis Announces the Successful Delivery to the CNS of an Enzyme Used to Treat Hunter Syndrome

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - July 31, 2015) - BIOASIS TECHNOLOGIES INC. (OTCQX:BIOAF)(TSX VENTURE:BTI), a pioneering biopharmaceutical company focused on overcoming the limitations of therapeutic drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), announces the completion and assessment of the data in the knockout mouse model of Hunter Syndrome (MPS II) performed in Padova, Italy, by a team led by Dr. Maurizio Scarpa of the Brains for Brain Foundation.

This knockout mouse model of Hunter Syndrome (MPS II) showed that the Transcend fusion protein, MTfp-I2S (MTfp-Iduronate-2-sulfatase), was able to cross the blood-brain barrier, reached therapeutic levels in the CNS and significantly decreased the number of lysosomal storage vacuoles in the cytoplasm of brain cells.

The study also showed that MTfp-I2S normalizes the GAG level in the periphery (liver & urine) showing that the recombinant enzyme is active and distributed throughout the body. The MTfp-I2S treatments were safe, showing no toxicity, and the activity of the enzyme was not affected by the MTfp peptide carrier.

Sufferers of the Lysosomal Storage Disease, Mucopolysaccharidoses Type II (MPS II or Hunter Syndrome), are unable to produce sufficient quantities of the enzyme Iduronate-2-sulfatase (I2S), resulting in the impaired degradation and removal of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from the body. The resulting accumulation of lysosomal storage vacuoles in cells leads to the death of these cells, causing severe physical and mental impairments.

Dr. Maurizio Scarpa, President of the Brains for Brain Foundation stated, "The study that we have recently performed in collaboration with biOasis produced some exciting data. I am very encouraged that after some adjustments regarding dosing, we might be able to move this program into the clinic. My goal and I am sure the goal of biOasis as well, is to help children with this devastating disease. I am very encouraged that based on these results, Transcend may play an important role in helping us achieve our goals."

CEO Rob Hutchison commented, "It has been a pleasure working with Dr. Scarpa and the Brains for Brain foundation. When we looked to advance our Lysosomal Storage Disease program, Dr. Scarpa along with Dr. Begley where our first choices and we were very pleased when, through their foundation, Brains for Brain, they agreed to work with us. Working with these world leaders and their team at the University of Padova has been very exciting for us. The data that they have generated has provided biOasis with confirmation that we've been on the right track with our Transcend peptide carrier and we are now poised to potentially help make a difference to children coping with this awful disease."