Amarantus Biosciences Awarded Research Grant by Center of Excellence in Apoptosis Research

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amarantus BioSciences, Inc. (OTCQB: AMBS), a biotechnology company developing new treatments for brain-related disorders including Parkinson's disease and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) centered on its unique proprietary anti-apoptotic therapeutic protein known as MANF, today announced a Translational Research Grant award from the University of Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute's Center of Excellence in Apoptosis Research (CEAR).  The Institute is a joint research venture of Baystate Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Investigators will exploit publicly available genomics databases to identify potentially new therapeutic targets for MANF-based therapeutics, and then validate those hypotheses in cell-based laboratory research. This program could lead to the identification and patenting of therapeutic indications for MANF beyond what has already been reported.

"The literature on MANF has grown extensively during the past few years, and there appears to be a solid rationale for investigating the potential use of MANF in areas other than Parkinson's disease," said Dr. Lawrence M. Schwartz, Isenberg Professor of Integrative Sciences at the University of Massachusetts and current Amarantus Scientific Advisor who will serve as the Principle Investigator on the project. "Our study compliments the work of other labs around the world that are focusing on MANF. Our relationship with Amarantus will be critical to ensure that we can translate this basic science into clinical research in a number of different therapeutic indications."

"This grant will enable Amarantus to explore the full breadth of the MANF opportunity," said Gerald E. Commissiong, President & CEO of Amarantus. "As our development program for Parkinson's progresses towards the critical milestone of identifying the best delivery target(s) for MANF, identifying additional disease targets for MANF therapy could significantly increase the value of our intellectual property portfolio and make Amarantus more attractive to potential partners."

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 surrounding the intellectual property and proprietary technologies it owns to treat and/or diagnose Parkinson's disease, Traumatic Brain Injury and other human diseases.  The Company owns the intellectual property rights to a therapeutic protein known as Mesencephalic-Astrocyte-derived Neurotrophic Factor ("MANF") and is developing MANF-based products as treatments for brain disorders. The Company also is a Founding Member of the Coalition for Concussion Treatment (#C4CT), a movement initiated in collaboration with Brewer Sports International seeking to raise awareness of new treatments in development for concussions and nervous-system disorders. 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 and/or advantages presented by Amarantus' PhenoGuard technology, 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
Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.
Gerald E. Commissiong
408-737-2734
[email protected]

SOURCE Amarantus BioSciences, Inc.