Bioasis Announces Publication of Independent Validation of the Company’s xB3 ™ Platform Technology

Bioasis Announces Publication of Independent Validation of the Company’s xB ³ ™ Platform Technology

Research Conducted by MedImmune Shows the xB ³ Platform Efficiently Delivers Antibodies Across the BBB at Therapeutic Doses

xB ³ Demonstrated Sustained Systemic PK Properties of the MedImmune Antibody Constructs and Demonstrated a Strong PK/PD Dose Dependent Relationship in a Neuropathic Pain Pre-Clinical Model

The Research was Published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism ¹

BIOASIS TECHNOLOGIES INC . (TSX.V:BTI; OTCQB:BIOAF), a biopharmaceutical company developing its xB^{3 TM} proprietary platform technology for the delivery of therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the treatment of CNS disorders in areas of high unmet medical-need, including brain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the publication of independent research validating the ability of the company’s xB³ platform to efficiently deliver antibodies across the blood-brain barrier to the central nervous system in therapeutically relevant doses.

Scientists at MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, evaluated Bioasis’ xB³ platform technology by making two xB³ antibody fusion proteins and measuring systemic pharmacokinetic (PK) and brain exposure in mice; this was followed by a pharmacodynamic (PD) study in a mouse neuropathic pain model. This research shows that the xB³ platform demonstrated a strong PK/PD dose dependent relationship in this pre-clinical neuropathic pain mouse model without compromising peripheral pharmacokinetic properties. The research conducted by Thom, et al., “A peptide derived from melanotransferrin delivers a protein-based interleukin 1 receptor antagonist across the BBB and ameliorates neuropathic pain in a pre-clinical model,” was published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.

The study found that the xB³ fusion protein maintained the systemic pharmacokinetics of its payload and had significantly improved and sustained brain exposure of the payload molecule. The PD study demonstrated dose dependent pre-clinical effect in neuropathic pain model post single dose systemic administration.

The data presented in this publication provide evidence for the utility of xB³ peptides (previously known as MTfpep) as a platform technology for delivery of recombinant and chemically conjugated drugs across the BBB to increase brain exposure. The pharmacokinetic data demonstrate efficient delivery of antibodies across the BBB with peak exposure of over 4% injected dose per gram of brain, compared to peak of 0.5% for payload alone.

The new data from MedImmune further highlights that xB³ peptides do not affect systemic pharmacokinetics of the antibody payload compared to the payload alone. In the pharmacodynamic mouse model of neuropathic pain, the recombinant fusion protein with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) demonstrated efficient delivery of therapeutic concentrations of IL-1RA to the CNS and eliciting analgesia in the animal model after a single dose treatment. Systemic administration of IL-1RA itself does not elicit analgesia.

“The results from this research independently validate the utility of our xB³ platform technology to increase delivery of therapeutic compounds across the blood-brain barrier at levels that may help treat a variety of central nervous system diseases. The Medimmune data are consistent with the previous antibody study where our technology successfully delivered Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to the brain, engaged the target areas and reduced brain metastasis by 68%.” said Mei Mei Tian, Ph.D., vice president, head of external research, Bioasis.

ABSTRACT

Delivery of biologic drugs across the blood-brain barrier is becoming a reality. However, the solutions often involve the assembly of complex multi-specific antibody molecules. Here we utilize a simple 12 amino-acid peptide originating from the melanotransferrin (MTf) protein that has shown improved brain delivery properties. 3D confocal fluorescence microscopic analysis demonstrated brain parenchymal localization of a fluorescently labelled antibody (NIP228) when chemically conjugated to either the MTf peptide or full-length MTf protein. Measurement of plasma kinetics demonstrated the MTf peptide fusions had very similar kinetics to an unmodified NIP228 control antibody, whereas the fusion to MTf protein had significantly reduced plasma exposure most likely due to a higher tissue distribution in the periphery. Brain exposure for the MTf peptide fusions was significantly increased for the duration of the study, exceeding that of the fusions to full length MTf protein. Using a neuropathic pain model, we have demonstrated that fusions to interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) are able to induce significant and durable analgesia following peripheral administration. These data demonstrate that recombinant and chemically conjugated MTf-based brain delivery vectors can deliver therapeutic levels of drug to the central nervous system.

About Bioasis

Bioasis Technologies, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing xB³, a proprietary platform technology for the delivery of therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the treatment of CNS disorders in areas of high unmet medical need, including brain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. The delivery of therapeutics across the BBB represents the final frontier in treating neurological disorders. The in-house development programs at Bioasis are designed to develop symptomatic and disease-modifying treatments for brain-related diseases and disorders. The company maintains headquarters in Richmond, Canada with offices in Guilford, Conn., United States. Bioasis trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “BTI” and on the OTCQB under the symbol “BIOAF.” For more information about the company please visit www.bioasis.ca or www.bioasis.us.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words “believe”, “may”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, events or developments, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, events or developments express or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such factors include, among others, our stage of development, lack of any product revenues, additional capital requirements, risk associated with the completion of clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to market our products, the ability to protect our intellectual property, dependence on collaborative partners and the prospects for negotiating additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements and their timing. Specifically, certain risks and uncertainties that could cause such actual events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from any future events or results expressed or implied by such statements and information include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties that: products that we develop may not succeed in preclinical or clinical trials, or future products in our targeted corporate objectives; our future operating results are uncertain and likely to fluctuate; we may not be able to raise additional capital; we may not be successful in establishing additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements; we may not be able to establish marketing and the costs of launching our products may be greater than anticipated; we have no experience in commercial manufacturing; we may face unknown risks related to intellectual property matters; we face increased competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and other factors as described in detail in our filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com . Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are based on our current expectations and we undertake no obligation to revise or update such forward- looking statements and information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.

“Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.”

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¹ Thom G, Tian MM, Hatcher JP, et al., A peptide derived from melanotransferrin delivers a protein-based interleukin 1 receptor antagonist across the BBB and ameliorates neuropathic pain in a preclinical model. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.

Media & Investor Relations
Bioasis Technologies Inc.
Catherine London
Catherine@bioasis.us
+1 917-763-2709

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