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Home > Press > New Video Reveals Possible Key to Stopping Disease

New Video Reveals Possible Key to Stopping Disease

Posted on November 6, 2006

Scientists released the first live video footage of calcifying nanoparticles, or CNPs, that might play a basic role in calcifying diseases ranging from heart disease to prostate disease and kidney stones. Calcification is a harmful condition found in most diseases on the leading-cause-of-death list, including cardiovascular disease—the nation's single leading cause of death. Even the lesser problem of kidney stones results in more than one million doctor visits and 250,000 hospitalizations every year.

"We used a new, high-definition Nikon microscope system, validated with a new award-winning system from Aetos Technologies, which allowed real-time tracking of calcifying nanoparticles (CNPs) at a size of around 100 nanometers," explained Dr. Neva Ciftcioglu, Science Director of Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, which produced the video. "Before these technologies were created recently, we had to chemically treat the nanoparticles to see below the 200 nanometer threshold, which kept us from observing live processes."

This video, for the first time, illustrates: 1) A decalcifying agent dissolving calcified structures while the particles inside seem unaffected and are released to potentially begin the calcification process again. 2) By contrast, inorganic crystals exposed to the same agent are dissolved without releasing nanoparticles.

"Although preliminary, this is a significant scientific and medical finding," observed Dr. Arnold Mandell, professor emeritus at UCSD School of Medicine, research professor at the Emory University School of Medicine and a MacArthur Prize Fellow in the medical sciences. "It brings new scientific support to earlier findings that the pathophysiology of calcification in vascular and other organ systems might involve calcifying nanoparticles. More generally, it suggests that an as yet to be fully explored universe of nanoparticles might play critical roles in medical disorders. It also supports previous evidence that these particles can be viewed as distinct from inorganic crystals and form the basis for an exciting and independent area of research." Dr. Mandell was present as an independent observer when the results were announced by Nanobac scientists.

"While these are early findings, we believe they merit serious investigation," explained Nanobac Co-Chairman Dr. Benedict Maniscalco. "Further investigation of these particles will be necessary to determine if this is the first step toward proving a biological mechanism for calcifying diseases, and will hopefully lead to drug therapies to treat calcification. These results, which were obtained from animal sourced particles, will now be applied to particles obtained from human blood."

Evidence of CNPs was first reported in the 1990s, by Nanobac scientists and other scientists in peer-reviewed journals. The new video was first unveiled at a recent invitation-only Auburn University conference of leading microscopy and biomedical scientists, organized by the Fetzer Memorial Trust. The Trust specializes in supporting leading-edge medical technologies, and has been collaborating with Nanobac on this project since early 2006.

For a copy of the video, for more information, or to schedule a briefing/interview please contact Carson Chandler (202) 367-1625, cchandler@akerpartners.com or Matt Taylor (202) 367-1631, mtaylor@akerpartners.com.

####

About Nanobac Pharmaceuticals:
Nanobac Pharmaceuticals Inc. ((OTCBB:NNBP)) is dedicated to the discovery and development of products and services to improve human health through the detection and treatment of calcifying nanoparticles (CNPs). The company's pioneering research is establishing the pathogenic role of CNPs in soft tissue calcification, particularly in coronary artery, prostate and vascular disease. Nanobac's drug discovery and development is focused on new and existing compounds that effectively inhibit, destroy or neutralize CNPs. Nanobac manufactures In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) kits and reagents for detecting calcifying nanoparticles. IVD products include a line of assays, proprietary antibodies, and reagents for uniquely recognizing CNPs. Nanobac's BioAnalytical Services works with biopharmaceutical partners to develop and apply methods for avoiding, detecting, and inactivating or eliminating CNPs from raw materials.

Investors are cautioned that certain statements in this document, some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. officials are "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act). Forward-Looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. actions, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Forward-Looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and to vary significantly from reporting period to reporting period. Although management believes that the assumptions will, in fact, prove to be correct or that actual future results will not be different from the expectations expressed in this report. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has no specific intention to update these statements.

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Matt Taylor
202-367-1631
mtaylor@akerpartners.com

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