Affiris GmbH - Affiris Expands Patent Portfolio for Alzheimer’s Therapies

Vienna, 27. February 2008. Affiris GmbH has anchored addition Europe-wide apparent for an avant-garde adjustment of alleviative Alzheimer's disease. This new blood-cleansing adjustment is agnate to dialysis and is advised to abate the aggregate of adverse protein deposits in the brain. It is based on the AFFITOME technology accustomed by Affiris, which was patented in October 2007 for an Alzheimer's vaccine. The use of this technology to absolve the claret underlines the arch all-embracing role that Affiris plays in the development of avant-garde Alzheimer's treatments, a role that has been underpinned financially by investment from the German aggregation MIG-Fonds.


Affiris GmbH, which is based in Vienna, Austria, today appear that it has been accepted a Europe-wide apparent for a new adjustment of abbreviation the aggregate of adverse protein deposits (beta-amyloid) in the accuracy of Alzheimer's patients. A key affection of this adjustment is the cleansing of the patient’s claret (apheresis). This enables the targeted abatement of the proteins that could cause the accession of deposits in the brain, and accordingly the access of the disease.

Dr. Walter Schmidt, CEO of Affiris GmbH, comments on the accent of the patent: "Affiris already has its aboriginal proprietary vaccine for the analysis of Alzheimer's in analytic testing and a additional is set to chase after this year. Our apheresis is an addition access to the analysis of Alzheimer's and complements our vaccine strategy. We accept accordingly auspiciously beat our business affairs for this adumbration and we will now accouter the abeyant of AFFITOME technology for the development of added therapies. In accordance with our accumulated strategy, we will focus on medical needs that accept not yet been abundantly addressed but action cogent bazaar potential, such as Alzheimer's or Atherosclerosis."

The afresh patented action involves acclimation receptor molecules assimilate a carrier actual and application them to bind the beta-amyloid that can advance to the accumulation of plaques in the accuracy of Alzheimer's patients. The anchored receptor molecules from Affiris, which can advice abate the aggregate of beta-amyloid present in the claret (serum), can be deployed during hemodialysis.

What may, at aboriginal glance, assume a somewhat abnormal access – application hemodialysis to accomplish ameliorative accoutrement in the academician – is in actuality based on complete science, as Dr. Schmidt explains: "The beta-amyloid molecules that advance to the accumulation of plaques can access the blood-brain barrier via directed transport. As a result, their absorption in the academician correlates anon to their absorption in the blood. If we can abate beta-amyloid concentrations in the claret – as our apheresis permits us to – beta-amyloid is again transported out of the academician and into the bloodstream until the absorption is counterbalanced again. Consequently, removing beta-amyloid from the claret gradually reduces the absorption of beta-amyloid and its bits in the brain."

The key to this is ensuring that the receptor molecules accept the actual bounden properties. Affiris AFFITOME technology delivers these backdrop by enabling scientists to ascertain and accomplish molecules with actual specific bounden characteristics. This technology aswell offers a cogent advantage in the development of vaccines adjoin animal rogue proteins. In this case, it agency that autoimmune reactions can be avoided, as Affiris has already accurate with its aboriginal Alzheimer's vaccine.

Michael Motschmann, Senior Fund Manager at MIG-Fonds, explains his angle on AFFITOME technology: "AFFITOME technology has already approved its abeyant in the Alzheimer's vaccine that is currently ability analytic testing. As investors, we will now plan with Affiris to abide developing this abeyant for added medical indications. This will affirm the company's arch role in the development of avant-garde Alzheimer's therapies with a adapted pipeline."

Contact Affiris GmbH:
Dr. Walter Schmidt
Campus Vienna Biocenter 2
A-1030 Vienna, Austria
T +43 / 1 / 798 15 75 - 10
E walter.schmidt@affiris.com

Copy Editing & Distribution:
PR&D - Public Relations for Research & Education
Campus Vienna Biocenter 2
A-1030 Vienna, Austria
T +43 / 1 / 505 70 44
E contact@prd.at

About AFFiRiS GmbH (as at February 2008):
AFFiRiS GmbH develops peptide-based vaccines for the analysis of Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis and added austere diseases. The aggregation has accustomed its AFFITOME belvedere technologies. It employs 30 awful able associates of agents on 600 sqm of busy class accessories at the Campus Vienna Biocenter (www.affiris.com).
AFFITOPE and AFFITOME are registered trademarks of Affiris GmbH.

About MIG-Fonds:
The accord of MIG Verwaltungs AG in Affiris GmbH represents the assiduity of a tried-and-tested approach. Investment is alone fabricated in called companies in Germany and Austria afterwards their activity has been thoroughly audited. Their innovative, high-potential articles and the ambitious abilities of their administration teams are both key. MIG Verwaltungs AG is accurate by Alfred Wieder AG. This specialist in adventure basic is accomplished in the auction of backing and is accordingly the aboriginal point of acquaintance for any abeyant investors.