CohBar, Inc. Announces Preclinical Proof-of-principle Publication for SHLP Mitochondrial-derived Peptides and their Role in Metabolic Regulation and Cell Viability

MENLO PARK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CohBar, Inc. (OTCQX: CWBR and TSX-V: COB.U), an innovative biotechnology company focused on developing mitochondria-based therapeutics (MBTs) to treat diseases associated with aging, today announced that researchers at the University of Southern California (USC), in collaboration with investigators at the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University (Einstein), have demonstrated the ability of small humanin-like peptides (SHLPs), a novel family of six peptide hormones discovered by the group, to regulate metabolism and cell viability in preclinical studies. The research, “Naturally Occurring Mitochondrial-derived Peptides are Age-dependent Regulators of Apoptosis, Insulin Sensitivity, and Inflammatory Markers,” appears online and in the April 2016 issue of Aging. CohBar has the exclusive license for the development of SHLPs into therapeutics.
SHLPs are encoded in the mitochondria, which are small components of the cell responsible for converting food into energy. In the newly published study, the SHLP hormones demonstrated unique activities, suggesting therapeutic potential for a number of diseases associated with aging. Specifically, SHLP2, which declines with age, has shown characteristics that could be beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease as well as diabetes, both subjects of ongoing studies by teams at Einstein and USC. SHLP6 has shown activity in the promotion of cancer cell apoptosis, a mechanism that could be useful in the treatment of malignancies.
“Together with the previously described mitochondrial-derived peptides humanin and MOTS-c, the SHLP family expands our understanding of the role that these peptides play in intracellular signaling throughout the body to regulate both metabolism and cell survival,” said Pinchas Cohen, M.D., Dean of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Founder and Director of CohBar, and the senior author on the study. “These findings further illustrate the enormous potential that mitochondria-based therapeutics could have on treating age-associated diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.”
“The pre-clinical evidence continues to confirm that these peptides represent a new class of naturally occurring metabolic regulators,” said CohBar CEO Simon Allen. “They form the foundation of our pipeline of first-in-class treatments for age-related diseases and we are committed to rapidly advancing them though pre-clinical and clinical activities as we move forward.”
About Mitochondria-based Therapeutics
Until recently, the mitochondrial genome was believed to contain only 37 genes and remained relatively unexplored as a focus of drug discovery efforts. Research by CohBar founders and their academic collaborators has revealed that the mitochondrial genome has dozens of potential new genes that may encode peptides capable of influencing cellular activities by acting as messengers between cells. In models of diseases associated with aging, these peptides have shown disease-modifying metabolic, neuro-protective, cyto-protective and anti-inflammatory effects. CohBar’s efforts are focused on optimizing mitochondrial-derived peptides into MBT drug candidates. MBTs are being developed for the treatment of diseases associated with aging, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders.
About CohBar
CohBar (OTCQX: CWBR and TSXV: COB.U) is the leader in the research and development of mitochondria-based therapeutics (MBTs), an emerging class of drugs for the treatment of diseases associated with aging. MBTs originate from the discovery of a novel group of peptides within the genome of mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. This groundbreaking discovery was made by our founders, world leaders in the biology of aging, metabolism and mitochondrial genomics. MBTs offer the potential to address a broad range of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders.
For additional company information, please visit www.cohbar.com.
Forward-looking statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including: statements concerning: the company’s plans, prospects, resources and capabilities; anticipated research and development activities; the results and timing of the company’s research programs; and the company’s future financing needs and access to capital. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by CohBar. These risks and uncertainties include CohBar’s ability to retain key personnel, expand its research operations and successfully advance its research programs. Additional assumptions, risks and uncertainties are described in detail in our registration statements, reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian securities regulators, which are available on our website, and at www.sec.gov or www.sedar.com. You are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and CohBar does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
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