Q Biomed Inc. Signs Exclusive Option Agreement With Washington University in St. Louis for a Novel Companion Biomarker for Monitoring Glaucoma

NEW YORK, February 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO), is pleased to announce an exclusive option agreement with Washington University in St. Louis. Under the agreement granting the exclusive right to license the technology, Q BioMed will evaluate the feasibility and usability of GDF-15, a novel biomarker for monitoring glaucoma, as a companion diagnostic to the MAN-01 small molecule currently being optimized for the topical treatment of glaucoma.

"The ophthalmology in general and glaucoma sector specifically are currently in an active consolidation and business development cycle. Having access to a truly innovative technology that compliments ours as a companion diagnostic could greatly enhance the value of the Mannin Research MAN-01 technology. We are excited to evaluate this technology and look forward to a new collaborative partnership with a leading institution like Washington University School of Medicine," said Denis Corin, CEO of Q BioMed, Inc.

Glaucoma is one of the leading cause of blindness worldwide, estimated to affect nearly 100 million people by 2020. The disease is linked to the buildup of pressure within the eye. Such intra-ocular pressure can damage the optic nerve. If the damage progresses, glaucoma can lead to permanent vision loss. Progression of glaucoma is typically monitored through a visual field test, but there has not been a reliable way to measure which patients have a high risk of rapid vision loss.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a marker of damage to cells in the eye that potentially could be used to monitor progression of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) superfamily and was recently identified as a promising biomarker for glaucoma.

The researchers discovered GDF15 to be a biomarker for glaucoma using an array analysis, which identified chemokines, growth factors, TGF-beta family members and other ligands whose expression increased in the optic nerve crush model of glaucoma but not in endotoxin-induced uveitis or light-induced retinal degeneration models. They also validated GDF15 in both rat models of glaucoma and in patients, showing that its expression correlates with disease severity. Overall, GDF15 represents an attractive biomarker for glaucoma with distinct advantages (i.e., early detection) over conventional clinical tests and has the potential to be a first-in-class diagnostic test. The researchers' findings were published online May 4, 2017 in the journal JCI Insight.

Please visit http://www.qbiomed.com for more information and sign up to receive regular updates. Follow us on social media @QBioMed.

About Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis 

Washington University School of Medicine's 2,100 employed and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient-care institutions in the nation, currently ranked seventh in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

About Q BioMed, Inc. 

Q BioMed, Inc. is a biomedical acceleration and development company. We are focused on licensing and acquiring biomedical assets across the healthcare spectrum. Q BioMed is dedicated to providing these target assets the strategic resources, developmental support and expansion capital they need 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.