$AMBS News Alert - Amarantus Announces Positive Phase 2 Data for Eltoprazine in Alzheimer's Aggression #AMBS

SAN FRANCISCO, - (http://www.financialnewsmedia.com News Alert) - Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: AMBS), a biotechnology company developing therapeutic and diagnostic product candidates in neurology and orphan indications, today announced positive data for Eltoprazine in a Phase 2 clinical trial of elderly patients with Alzheimer\'s dementia who are aggressive. Eltoprazine is a selective 5HT1a/1b partial agonist in development by Amarantus for the treatment Parkinson\'s disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia, and is now poised for further clinical development as a symptomatic treatment in adult ADHD and Alzheimer\'s aggression.



\"Verbal and physical agitation and aggression symptoms are commonly associated with Alzheimer\'s disease as the disease progresses into the dementia phase,\" commented - Paula T. Trzepacz, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine and Scientific Advisory Board Member. Caregivers find these symptoms to be very distressing, leading to significant caregiver distress, health problems and burnout, as well as a high likelihood of patient institutionalization. There are currently no medications specifically indicated for these symptoms, though many types have been studied in clinical trials, including neuroleptics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, sedative/hypnotics, cholinesterase inhibitors, and glutamate system agents. Clinically, a variety of psychoactive medications are used off-label to attempt to manage these symptoms, but none have proven efficacy. Further, many carry problematic adverse effects such as excess sedation or even more serious ones such as stroke and death. Therefore, positive pilot data for a new drug that acts on the serotonin neurotransmitter system differently than marketed drugs offer hope. An adequately powered Phase 2 trial would be needed to further evaluate potential efficacy and safety of eltoprazine.\"



The data demonstrate a significant improvement in eltoprazine-treated patients in the severely aggressive eltoprazine-treated population (25.1 to 16.9) versus placebo (22.5 to 21.5), p<0.05 as measured by the Social Dysfunction and Aggression Scale at the end of the four week treatment regimen, which followed a washout from previous psychoactive treatments and a 3-week placebo-lead-in period. Further evaluation of the complete data package...