Microlin Bio, Inc. Announces Publication of Results From AntimiR-21 Lung Cancer Study in Molecular Pharmaceutics

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microlin Bio, Inc.(OTCQB:AMIB), a development stage biotechnology company focused on the development of microRNA based therapeutics for cancer, today announced that results from a study demonstrating the potential of its lead compound, AntimiR-21 (AM-21) to be an effective therapy for lung cancer were published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics. 

MiR-21 is a microRNA mainly involved in regulation of gene expression. Overexpression of miR-21 has been linked to progression of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and other cancers. AM-21 therapy along with lipid nanoparticles (LNP) inhibit miR-21 activity, resulting in upregulation of tumor suppressor genes that are targets of miR-21.

The study, entitled “Lipid Nanoparticles Composed of Quaternary Amine-Tertiary Amine Cationic Lipid Combination (QTsome) for Therapeutic Delivery of AntimiR-21 for Lung Cancer,” was led by Dr. Robert Lee of The Ohio State University. It utilized AM-21 encapsulated in the QTsome LNPs (QT/AM-21) to increase the efficacy and improve the delivery of AM-21 to tumor cells. A combination of QTsome encapsulated AM-21 and Paclitaxel (PTX) was also evaluated against lung carcinoma cells.

In vitro, QT/AM-21 displayed high potency against A549 cells (lung carcinoma cells) and increased their sensitivity to PTX. Treatment with QT/AM-21 also led to upregulation of target genes such as PTEN and DDAH1 and reduced metastatic potential of the lung carcinoma cells. 

In vivo, QT/AM-21 treatment prolonged survival in the A549 mouse xenograft tumor model by modulating targets of miR-21. Similar to the in vitro results, QT/AM-21 increased the sensitivity of the tumor cells to PTX in vivo.

Joseph Hernandez, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Microlin Bio, commented, “Results from this study highlight AM-21’s potential as a highly effective treatment strategy for lung cancer. Our findings show that AM-21’s spectrum of anti-tumor activity could be very effective against NSCLC and other types of cancers. Data from this study also suggest that this therapy maybe valuable to patients who have developed resistance to paclitaxel. The combination of QT/AM-21 and paclitaxel demonstrated a reduction in cell proliferation and increased therapeutic activity. Overall, the results are highly encouraging and validate our strategy for further evaluation of AM-21 as an antitumor agent. We look forward to initiating additional studies to assess the safety and efficacy of QT/AM-21.”

About microRNA

MicroRNAs are recently discovered naturally occurring RNA molecules (composed of 19 to 25 nucleotides) that do not encode proteins but instead regulate gene expression and various biological pathways. The improper balance of microRNAs is linked to many diseases, including cancer. As such, replacement or inhibition of deregulated microRNAs may act as a potent means to treat cancers.

About Microlin Bio, Inc.

Microlin Bio, Inc. is a development stage biotechnology company focused primarily on the development of microRNA based therapeutics to treat cancer from technologies licensed from Ohio State University. This includes over 138 pending patent applications and 132 granted patents covering numerous microRNAs. For more information, please visit www.microlinbio.com.

Microlin Bio Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in the press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Microlin Bio’s business and Microlin Bio undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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