Amarantus BioSciences Reports Addition of New Scientific Articles to MANF Publications List

SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCBB: AMBS), a biotechnology company developing MANF, a first-in-class disease–modifying therapeutic protein being advanced for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease, today reported that it has added several new scientific articles on its lead therapeutic candidate MANF to its website, bringing the total number of articles listed on its website to 20. A listing of the citations can be viewed on the Company's website at www.amarantus.com/investor-relations/scientific-publications.html.

"There has been a significant increase in the scientific community's interest in MANF over the last four years. We believe our understanding of the molecule's basic function and potential in the treatment of certain chronic and acute human disorders is nearing critical mass," said Gerald Commissiong, CEO of Amarantus. "We look forward to continuing to work with researchers in North America and abroad to uncover MANF's full therapeutic potential in order to increase the value of the Company's substantial intellectual property portfolio and move product development opportunities forward in various therapeutic indications to improve patient care."

The most recent article, published earlier this year, focuses on the findings from an independent peer-reviewed scientific article published in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry by researchers at Gifu University in Japan. The article reports on certain aspects of MANF  trafficking inside the cell and its secretion outside the cell, as well as MANF's interactions with other chaperone proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

The ER is the location in the cell where protein folding occurs, which is critical for normal cell function.  Previously-reported data show that MANF is a critical ER-resident protein whose natural production in the ER increases in response to cellular stress in order to improve cell function and prevent apoptosis. In stressful conditions, MANF is also secreted out of the cell resulting in enhanced protection and survival of neighboring cells. MANF's ability to act both in the cell and outside the cell appears to be unique among ER–resident proteins. The authors demonstrate that slight variations in MANF's genetic sequence determine its ability to be secreted out of the cell and hypothesize that MANF secretion may be dependent, in part, on the level of expression of GRP78, another ER-resident chaperone protein that increases protein folding in an effort to reduce apoptosis.

"The findings reported in this well-respected scientific journal provide further understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the secretion of MANF out of the cell," said John W. Commissiong Ph.D, Chief Scientific Officer of Amarantus. "As our understanding of how MANF protects cells from death improves, we expect to see a range of disorders related to apoptosis and other mechanisms of cell death fall under the treatment purview of our proprietary, ground-breaking MANF technology."

About Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.

Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. is a development-stage biotechnology company founded in January 2008.  The Company has a focus on developing certain biologics and biomarkers surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns and has rights to for the treatment and diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and other human diseases.  The Company owns the intellectual property rights to an anti-apoptotic therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor ("MANF"), and owns an inventory of 88 cell lines referred to as "PhenoGuard Cell Lines" from which MANF was discovered. The Company also has a license to the NuroPro™ diagnostic test for Parkinson's disease from Power3 Medical Products. For further information please visit www.amarantus.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the possible benefits of MANF therapeutic applications, advantages presented by Amarantus' PhenoGuard technology, and/or possible benefits of the NuroPro™ diagnostic platform, as well as statements about expectations, plans and prospects of the development of Amarantus' new product candidates. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks that the anticipated benefits of the therapeutic drug candidates or discovery platforms, as well as the risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the development of Amarantus' new product candidates, including those identified under "Risk Factors" in Amarantus' most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings Amarantus periodically makes with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements Amarantus does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this presentation.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Gerald E. Commissiong
408-737-2734 ext. 102
[email protected]

SOURCE Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.