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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Aethlon Medical’s (Nasdaq: AEMD) Exosome Sciences Announces the Publication of Preliminary Findings of a Blood Test to Detect Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) During Life

Aethlon Medical’s (Nasdaq: AEMD) Exosome Sciences Announces the Publication of Preliminary Findings of a Blood Test to Detect Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) During Life


SAN DIEGO, CA, February 25, 2016 – Exosome Sciences, Inc., in collaboration with majority shareholder Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq:AEMD) and investigators at Boston University and the University of Washington, announced today the published preliminary results of possibly the first blood test to detect the neurodegenerative disease, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) during life. An early online version of these findings has been published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. CTE is associated with exposure to repetitive head impacts, such as those experienced by American football players, and can only be diagnosed post-mortem at this time.

The researchers developed a method of measuring plasma exosomal tau, also referred to as a TauSome™.  Exosomes are very small vesicles that are released from all types of cells throughout the body, including brain cells.  They can be isolated in all body fluids, including plasma, a component of blood. Exosomes carry within them the proteins from their cells of origin.  Because exosomes can cross the blood-brain-barrier (a selective barrier that separates the circulating blood from the brain’s extracellular fluid), they can provide a unique method of measuring certain aspects of the contents of brain cells through a blood test.  That is, if the brain-derived exosomes can be isolated in plasma and then be stained for specific proteins found in the brain cells, researchers can potentially measure brain proteins through a blood test.  That was the goal of this preliminary study.

The ability to diagnose CTE during life will allow researchers to better determine its incidence and prevalence, to examine risk factors to understand why some people get CTE and others do not, and to begin clinical trials of methods aimed at treating and ultimately preventing the disease.  Because CTE is very similar to Alzheimer’s disease and other related neurodegenerative diseases, the results of this new study may eventually lead to improved methods of detecting these other causes of dementia.

For this study, researchers examined 78 former National Football League (NFL) players and a control group of 17 former non-contact sport athletes. All subjects were participants in a larger project that was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a variety of biomarkers for CTE conducted at Boston University School of Medicine. Results demonstrated that plasma exosomal tau was significantly elevated in the group of former NFL players compared to the control group and that, within the former NFL player group, the number of tau-positive plasma exosomes was significantly correlated with performance on standardized tests of memory and psychomotor speed; the higher the TauSome level, the worse the performance. 
“We are extremely pleased that our initial study data has been published and we appreciate forthcoming opportunities to further advance our TauSome™ biomarker as a non-invasive solution to detect and monitor CTE in living individuals,” stated Jim Joyce, Founder of Exosome Sciences and Chairman and CEO of Aethlon Medical.
The researchers note that this is a preliminary study and is the first of several steps necessary to validate a TauSome test to detect CTE and potentially monitor its progression. The study was limited by a relatively small sample size and the lack of any additional possible biomarker of CTE. Furthermore, because of the methods used, the researchers cannot be completely confident that the exosomes that were isolated definitely came from the brain or that the specific form of tau that was measured is the same form of abnormal tau found in CTE.  A series of future TauSome studies are already planned, including collaboration with a multisite, 7-year $16 million grant recently awarded to Stern and colleagues by the NIH to develop methods of diagnosing CTE during life.
About Exosome Sciences
Exosome Sciences, Inc., in collaboration with majority shareholder Aethlon Medical (Nasdaq:AEMD), is focused on discovering exosomal biomarkers to diagnose and monitor Alzheimer's disease (AD), Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurological disorders.  Our TauSome™ biomarker (also referred to as exosomal tau) is being studied as the basis for a blood-based test to identify CTE through the DETECT Study being conducted by the Boston University CTE Center.  TauSome™ detection and the use of a TauSome™ biomarker to identify and monitor CTE and other neurological disorders are protected by multiple patent applications.  Visit www.exosomesciences.com for additional details.

About Aethlon Medical, Inc.
Aethlon Medical (Nasdaq:AEMD) creates affinity biofiltration devices to treat life-threatening diseases. The Aethlon Hemopurifier® is a leading broad-spectrum treatment countermeasure against infectious viral pathogens.  The device, which has been successfully administered to individuals infected with HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV) and Ebola virus, is currently the subject of FDA approved clinical studies. Aethlon is also studying the potential use of the Hemopurifier® to address exosomes secreted by tumors to promote the spread of metastasis and suppress the immune system of cancer patients.  The Company provides government contracting services to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) related to the development of a biofiltration device to treat sepsis and maintains majority ownership of Exosome Sciences, Inc., which is focused on the discovery of exosomal biomarkers to diagnose and monitor Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurological disorders.    Additional information can be found online at www.AethlonMedical.com or you can connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements containing words such as "may," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will," "projections," "estimate," or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may contribute to such differences include, without limitation, the Company's ability to maintain its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or any other national securities exchange, that the Company or its subsidiary will not be able to commercialize its products, that the FDA will not approve the initiation or continuation of the Company's clinical programs or provide market clearance of the Company's products, including products developed by Exosome Sciences, Inc., the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, the Company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the Company's ability to manufacture its products either internally or through outside companies, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the Company's proprietary technology, the ability of the Company to meet the milestones contemplated in its contract with DARPA, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is illustrative, but is not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2015, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not intend, nor does it undertake any duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.

Investor Relations Contact:
Mike Smargiassi/Brad Edwards
Brainerd Communicators, Inc.
212-986-6667

Media Contact:
Scott Beaver|
Ruder Finn, Inc.
650-946-1765

This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Disclosure: Investorideas was paid for news publication and social media: one thousand five hundred Feb 25 2016 
Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info: http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country.




Wednesday, February 17, 2016

QBioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO) Corporate Update; Licensed Mannin Research Glaucoma Technology Advancing on Schedule

QBioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO) Corporate Update; Licensed Mannin Research Glaucoma Technology Advancing on Schedule
     


NEW YORK, NY – February 17, 2016 - Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO), a biotechnology acceleration company recently provided the following update on recent corporate developments.

Over the last 3 months we have significantly increased our cash position through several convertible note and securities purchase agreements exceeding $1,000,000. As a result, we have positioned ourselves to execute on the initial commitments under our Mannin Research Inc. license agreement and expect that development to continue on schedule.

Mannin's leading technology platform, MAN-01, is moving forward as planned with molecule optimization and the asset development program is being finalized.

Mannin has also been accepted as one of three companies to the Chicago-Canada Mentorship Program (C2MP).

The C2MP program is a tailor-made mentoring program focused on life science innovators. In partnership with the Chicago Innovation Mentors (CIM@MATTER) organization, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service will catalyze and accelerate technology commercialization opportunities in the Chicago area by matching experienced and supportive mentoring teams with early stage innovators.

Mannin was selected to take part in the program so as to accelerate the development and commercialization of Mannin's lead indication, MAN-01 for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

CIM@MATTER was established in 2010 based on the VMS program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. CIM@MATTER has seven member institutions, and nearly 200 mentors as part of its innovation network.

The C2MP program will provide Mannin with a mentor and a group of advisors from a team of life science and business professionals within the CIM@MATTER team and dedicated support from the Trade Commissioner Service of Canada.

Mannin's CEO, Dr. George N. Nikopoulos stated, "We are thrilled to be a part of the program. We see the value in the acceleration process as it relates to our development and commercialization milestones. We thank the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service in Chicago for their support and look forward to a successful program."

In January 2016, Mannin participated in the Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum conference in San Francisco, organized by the Glaucoma Research Foundation.  The conference is a unique gathering of CEOs from startup companies, industry executives, ophthalmic leaders and venture capitalists seeking to speed the translation of new ideas to improved therapies for glaucoma patients. 

In January 2016, members of the QBIO management team attended and presented at the BioTech Showcase around the JP Morgan healthcare conference in San Francisco. The conference was very productive and our presentation was well attended. The focus of the meeting was to further expose the QBIO brand and business to potential partners both in technology development and capital raising.

Our management and our team of advisors are actively conducting due diligence and asset development assessment on several new technologies and products. It is our goal to have at least 3 asset transactions completed this year to expand and broaden our pipeline into other indications in various stages of development.

We invite our shareholders and interested parties to subscribe to our email list and stay informed on our website at http://www.qbiomed.com and follow us on the social media feeds we use.


About Q BioMed Inc.:
Q BioMed Inc. "Q" is a biomedical acceleration and development company. We are focused on acquiring companies and biomedical assets. Q is dedicated to providing these target companies and assets, strategic resources, developmental support, and expansion capital to ensure they meet their developmental potential enabling them to provide products to patients in need.




Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks related to our growth strategy; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Contact:
Denis Corin
CEO
Q BioMed Inc.
1 888 357 2435 

Source: Q BioMed Inc.

This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders
Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. More disclaimer info:  
http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Disclosure: QBIO has retained investorideas.com for PR, media, news publication and social media effective February 5th for three months: two thousand five hundred per month.

Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info:
http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country.





Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB:QBIO) To Present at the SeeThruEquity & The Brewer Group 2nd Annual Innovations Investor Conference at the Ritz in South Beach on Feb. 22, 2016

Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB:QBIO) To Present at the SeeThruEquity & The Brewer Group 2nd Annual Innovations Investor Conference at the Ritz in South Beach on Feb. 22, 2016

New York, NY – (February 16, 2016) – Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO) a biotechnology acceleration company, today announced that the company will present at the SeeThruEquity & The Brewer Group 2nd Annual Innovations Investor Conference at The Ritz-Carlton in Miami on South Beach on February 22, 2016.

Please click here for a list of presenting companies.

Each company will be provided with a 30-minute time slot to present to an audience of investors and industry professionals and company management will also be available for one-on-one meetings with institutional investors.

Conference registration: complimentary for qualified investors and equity research analysts. 

In order to register as an attendee of the conference, please click HERE

To stay informed on Q BioMed developments please visit our website www.qbiomed.com and sign up for our news distribution.



About SeeThruEquity
Since the company's founding in 2011, SeeThruEquity (STE) has been committed to its core mission: providing impactful, high quality research on uncovered and undercovered microcap stocks and hosting investor conferences throughout the year. STE has been able to grow its research universe to over 176 names.

STE conferences are the ultimate event for publicly traded companies with less than $1 billion in market capitalization because it augments the conference experience with the firm’s research which is part of Wall Street consensus and available across industry leading platforms including Thomson First Call, FactSet, S&P CapitalIQ, Yahoo! Finance and Bloomberg to name a select few.  STE has hosted 20 investor conferences which have showcased over 350 companies, attracted over 4500 attendees and have included over 1,700 1-on-1 meetings.

For more information please visit www.steconference.com.

About The Brewer Group
The Brewer Group, Inc. (TBG) is an industry agnostic investment and consulting company with assets ranging numerous sectors. TBG’s relationships with key international decision makers spanning government development agencies, financial institutions, multinational corporations, NGOs and numerous leaders in sports and entertainment place TBG in a unique position to grow its portfolio. TBG takes pride in identifying companies whose goal is to make a social impact on the communities in which they serve. For further information, please visit www.thebrewergroup.com.

About Q BioMed Inc.
Q BioMed Inc. ”Q“ is a biomedical acceleration and development company. We are focused on acquiring companies and biomedical assets. Q is dedicated to providing these target companies and assets, strategic resources, developmental support, and expansion capital to ensure they meet their developmental potential enabling them to provide products to patients in need.

Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks related to our growth strategy; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Contact:
Denis Corin
CEO
Q BioMed Inc.
1 888 357 2435 

This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders
Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. More disclaimer info:  
http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Disclosure: QBIO has retained investorideas.com for PR, media, news publication and social media effective February 5th for three months: two thousand five hundred per month.

Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info:
http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country.



Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Aethlon Medical’s (Nasdaq: AEMD) ExosomeSciences to Participate in Clinical Research Study To Diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

Aethlon Medical’s (Nasdaq: AEMD) ExosomeSciences to Participate in Clinical Research Study To Diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)



SAN DIEGO, CA, January 12, 2016 – Exosome Sciences, Inc., in collaboration with majority shareholder Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq:AEMD), announced today that it has agreed to participate in a clinical research study to establish methods for detecting and diagnosing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) during life as well as examining risk factors for CTE. CTE is a disease of the brain often found in athletes, military veterans, and others with a history of repetitive head impacts. At present, CTE can only be definitively diagnosed through post-mortem examination of brain tissue.

The research study will be conducted under a $16 million grant that the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH/NINDS) has awarded to researchers from Boston University, the Cleveland Clinic, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.  Overall, the project will involve a group of approximately 50 investigators, representing 17 research institutions.  Exosome Sciences has agreed to test an exosomal tau biomarker (TauSome™) that it has been advancing as a blood-based candidate to diagnose CTE.

“We are truly grateful that our colleagues at the Boston University CTE Center have expanded our opportunity to validate our Tausome™ biomarker as a candidate to detect and monitor CTE in living individuals,” stated Jim Joyce, Executive Chairman at Exosome Sciences and Chairman and CEO of Aethlon Medical.

Following its participation in the Diagnosing and Evaluating Traumatic Encephalopathy Using Clinical Tests (DETECT) study conducted by the Boston University CTE Center, Exosome Sciences also disclosed that it has agreed to provide follow-on TauSome™ testing to former NFL players who participated in that study.  The DETECT study was the first research project on CTE to be funded by the NIH, with support from NINDS, the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).  The DETECT study enrolled former NFL players (ages 40-69) and same-age "control" athletes who played non-contact sports.  A manuscript which details TauSome™ (exosomal tau) data resulting from the DETECT study is pending publication. 


About CTE
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a disease of the brain found in athletes, military veterans, and others with a history of repetitive head impacts. This type of trauma can trigger progressive degeneration of the brain tissue, including the build-up of an abnormal form of a protein called tau.  The brain degeneration is associated with memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and eventually progressive dementia.  A study recently conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Boston University found CTE in 87 of 91 examined brains (post-mortem autopsy) of former NFL players.  At present, the diagnosis of CTE can only be made through post-mortem examination of brain tissue.


About Exosome Sciences
Exosome Sciences, Inc., in collaboration with majority shareholder Aethlon Medical (Nasdaq:AEMD), is focused on discovering exosomal biomarkers to diagnose and monitor Alzheimer's disease (AD), Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurological disorders.  Our TauSome™ biomarker (also referred to as exosomal tau) is being studied as the basis for a blood-based test to identify CTE through the DETECT Study being conducted by the Boston University CTE Center.  TauSome™ detection and the use of a TauSome™ biomarker to identify and monitor CTE and other neurological disorders are protected by multiple patent applications.  Visit www.exosomesciences.com for additional details.


About Aethlon Medical, Inc.
Aethlon Medical creates affinity biofiltration devices to treat life-threatening diseases. The Aethlon Hemopurifier® is a leading broad-spectrum treatment countermeasure against infectious viral pathogens.  The device, which has been successfully administered to individuals infected with HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV) and Ebola virus, is currently the subject of FDA approved clinical studies. Aethlon is also studying the potential use of the Hemopurifier® to address exosomes secreted by tumors to promote the spread of metastasis and suppress the immune system of cancer patients.  The Company provides government contracting services to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) related to the development of a biofiltration device to treat sepsis and maintains majority ownership of Exosome Sciences, Inc., which is focused on the discovery of exosomal biomarkers to diagnose and monitor Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurological disorders.   Additional information can be found online at www.AethlonMedical.com or you can connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements containing words such as "may," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will," "projections," "estimate," or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may contribute to such differences include, without limitation, the Company's ability to maintain its listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or any other national securities exchange, that the Company or its subsidiary will not be able to commercialize its products, that the FDA will not approve the initiation or continuation of the Company's clinical programs or provide market clearance of the Company's products, including products developed by Exosome Sciences, Inc., the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, the Company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the Company's ability to manufacture its products either internally or through outside companies, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the Company's proprietary technology, the ability of the Company to meet the milestones contemplated in its contract with DARPA, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is illustrative, but is not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements can be found under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2015, and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not intend, nor does it undertake any duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances.

Contacts:
Mike Smargiassi/Brad Edwards
Brainerd Communicators, Inc.
212-986-6667

James A. Joyce
Chairman and CEO
(Office) 858.459.7800 x301
(Cell) 619-368-2000

Jim Frakes
Chief Financial Officer
858.459.7800 x300

This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Disclosure: Investoridease.com has been compensated by AEMD for this news publication and social media http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp and http://www.investorideas.com/About/News/Clientspecifics.asp



Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Aethlon Medical (Nasdaq:AEMD) CEO Jim Joyce Discusses the Forthcoming Concussion Movie and CTE Research

Research Being Conducted by Aethlon's Exosome Sciences Subsidiary

Source: Gail Dutton of The Life Sciences Report (12/22/15)

Exosome Sciences, a majority-owned subsidiary of Aethlon Medical Inc. (AEMD:NASDAQ), is pioneering the potential use of an exosome-based biomarker to diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition that otherwise can only be identified postmortem. As James "Jim" Joyce, executive chairman, tells The Life Sciences Report, other companies are exploring this approach in oncology, but Exosome Sciences is the only company advancing an exosome-based candidate to diagnose CTE.





Management Q&A: View From the Top

The Life Sciences Report: How did Exosome Sciences, a majority-owned subsidiary of Aethlon Medical Inc. (AEMD:NASDAQ), come to be?

James Joyce: Exosome Sciences grew out of our scientific advances at Aethlon Medical, where we have pioneered the development of affinity biofiltration therapies that eliminate life-threatening disease targets from the circulatory system. We formed Exosome Sciences to evolve exosome isolation techniques that we developed at Aethlon Medical for therapeutic purposes into a diagnostic setting. Exosomes are very stable nanometer-size vesicles that transport disease-specific cargos throughout the body.

In the case of neurological disorders, we pursued a belief that it might be able to isolate disease-specific exosomes that crossed through the blood-brain barrier and into the blood, thus establishing the possibility of liquid biopsy that could detect and monitor CTE, Alzheimer's disease and perhaps other neurological disorders. We have since translated this belief into the discovery of a biomarker known as a TauSome™, which is sometimes referred to as exosomal tau.

TLSR: What is CTE, and why did you choose it as your lead indication?

JJ: CTE is a progressive neurological disorder that is often found in the brains of athletes, military personnel and other individuals who have suffered from repetitive head impacts. The hallmark of the disease is the excessive buildup of tau protein in the brain. Postmortem autopsies conducted by researchers at the Boston University CTE Center have identified CTE in 87 of 91 examined brains of former National Football League (NFL) players. Not a very encouraging statistic.

CTE can lead to progressive reduction in neural functions, depression, confusion and severe headaches. At present, the diagnosis can only be made through postmortem autopsy of brain tissue. We hope to change that unfortunate reality.

TLSR: If it can't be diagnosed accurately, it can't be treated accurately. Correct?

JJ: That's correct. You have to understand the pathogenesis of the disease, which first starts with diagnosing the underlying condition. We think targeting the TauSome as a biomarker will unlock the potential to diagnose CTE in living individuals, and, at the same time, TauSomes could also evolve to become a therapeutic target in the future.

TLSR: Could other biomarkers do this as well?

JJ: At present, the only other CTE biomarker we're familiar with is tau protein itself. Unfortunately, tau protein is not very stable and is very difficult to find in the circulatory system. Inversely, our TauSome biomarker is quite stable and can be readily found in the circulatory system. As a result, we are able to quantify changes in TauSome levels.

At present, our TauSome biomarker is being studied as the basis for a blood-based test to identify CTE in a clinical study called "Diagnosing and Evaluating Traumatic Encephalopathy using Clinical Tests" (DETECT). The DETECT study is being conducted by the Boston University CTE Center, and it is the first CTE project ever funded by the National Institutes of Health, with additional support coming from a number of other government agencies.

The DETECT study enrolled former NFL players and same-age control athletes who played noncontact sports. The goal is to establish a test that can identify CTE in living individuals. To date, preliminary observations indicate that the former NFL group has significantly higher TauSome levels as compared to the control subjects. A manuscript that fully details the study results is pending potential publication.

TLSR: What is the next step in developing TauSome?

JJ: The next step is to continue our work in the DETECT study. We plan to continue following and testing TauSome levels in the former NFL players who were enrolled in the study. Then, we plan to work with our collaborators to establish further validation studies. After that, we would like to apply what we have learned in CTE to Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions.

TLSR: Are there any other companies working with exosomes for diagnostics?

JJ: A lot of exosome-related research is occurring at the academic level, and there are some companies that are investigating exosomes as potential biomarkers for a variety of oncology indications. However, to our knowledge, there's no other company looking for an exosome-based biomarker to detect and monitor CTE. In the meantime, we have filed multiple patents to protect our discoveries.

TLSR: When and how did you first become involved in this research?

JJ: We first got involved when Tom McHale, a former high school and college teammate of mine at the University of Maryland, died in 2008. Not long after his death, the research team at the Boston University (BU) CTE Center presented data at the 2009 Super Bowl that indicated Tom had suffered from CTE. The integrity of the scientific research advanced by the BU team would define CTE as a disease and forever change the way the NFL and other sports franchises treat head injury.

Immediately after Tom's postmortem diagnosis, I reached out to the folks at BU and applauded their efforts to identify CTE, but pointed out that we needed to find a biomarker to identify those who might have a predisposition to suffer from CTE.

This led to a project where we sought to isolate certain markers directly from brain tissue of former players. We didn't have initial success. But then, based on exosome-related studies that we were conducting at Aethlon, we began to understand the possibility that exosomes might be moving across the blood-brain barrier, carrying a biomarker for CTE. Then, we had the good fortune of being invited by the BU team to conduct tests as part of the DETECT study. This gave us access to a unique patient population that's at high risk for developing CTE.

Tom McHale was the second former NFL player who was diagnosed with CTE by the BU team. The presentation of his diagnosis at the Super Bowl became an inflection point for media coverage that would introduce the disease of CTE to the mainstream.

Interestingly enough, the first NFL player to be diagnosed with CTE was Mike Webster, an All-Pro center who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his case, the autopsy was performed by Dr. Bennet Omalu, who was not affiliated with the BU research team. Regardless, Mike's death became the impetus for the forthcoming movie "Concussion," which is scheduled to be released on Christmas day. This movie will no doubt increase the dialogue on the issue of CTE in NFL players.

In 1984, I was a member of a Denver Broncos football team that went 13–3 and was the AFC Western Division Champ. In the first round of the playoffs, we hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers, who unfortunately beat us 24–17. Mike Webster was the starting center, and the guard who played next to Mike was Terry Long, who would also be diagnosed with CTE. He committed suicide by drinking antifreeze. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how they are portrayed in the movie. The list of former players who have been diagnosed with CTE after committing suicide is getting to be quite long.

TLSR: Do you believe that CTE and other neurological conditions eventually will be diagnosed through blood-based liquid biopsy?

JJ: I do. If somebody had asked me that question a few years ago, I'm not sure I could have responded with a significant level of confidence. However, today, based on preliminary observations, I think this is very much a possibility.

While more studies will need to be conducted, I can envision that professional sports franchises, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), the military and other organizations would want to know the TauSome levels of participants so they can monitor changes over time.

TLSR: What milestones do you anticipate in the coming year?

JJ: The most significant near-term milestone would be the publication of TauSome data from the DETECT study. We also plan to continue following and testing TauSome levels of the NFL players who were enrolled in the DETECT study. Additionally, we need to work with our collaborators to establish further validation study protocols and then apply what we have learned to Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.

TLSR: Is there anything else investors should know about Exosome Sciences?

JJ: That Exosome Sciences is a majority-owned asset of Aethlon Medical, and that its endeavors might be underappreciated and overshadowed by the therapeutic advances we are making at Aethlon Medical. At this point in time, Exosome Sciences shares members of the management and research teams at Aethlon Medical, but has scientific collaborators who are thought leaders in the neurology field.

TLSR: What should investors know about Exosome Sciences' finances?

JJ: The nice thing about forming Exosome Sciences as an independent asset is that it can be financed independently without burdening Aethlon Medical's balance sheet. Aethlon Medical's focus is therapeutics. We have an ongoing FDA-approved clinical study to demonstrate the safety of our technology as a broad-spectrum countermeasure against viral pathogens, and we are also advancing immuno-oncology studies that we hope to leverage into human trials.

TLSR: If investors are interested in Exosome Sciences, does that mean they should be investing in Aethlon?

JJ: Yes, as we are not presently offering shares of Exosome Sciences to accredited or institutional investors.

TLSR: Thank you very much.

Jim Joyce is the founder of Exosome Sciences and founder, chairman and CEO of Aethlon Medical (AEMD:NASDAQ), which maintains majority ownership in Exosome Sciences. Under Joyce's leadership, Aethlon pioneered the creation of affinity biofiltration devices to treat life-threatening diseases. Time Magazine recently named the Aethlon Hemopurifier® to be one of the "Top 25 Inventions" and one of "11 Remarkable Advances in Healthcare" based on the Hemopurifier's ability to address a broad-spectrum of viral pathogens, including the successful treatment of Ebola virus. In the field of exosome biology, Joyce has co-authored exosome-related publications and is co-inventor on exosome-specific patent submissions. Prior to founding Exosome Sciences and Aethlon Medical, he was managing director at James Joyce & Associates, founder and CEO of Mission Labs, Inc. and was a member of the Denver Broncos Football Club of the National Football League. Joyce is a graduate of the University of Maryland.

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