OLGC Orthologic (MM)

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- OrthoLogic Corp. (NASDAQ:OLGC) today announced results of experiments that advance the basic science supporting its novel synthetic peptide Chrysalin (TP508). Two posters are being presented at the American Society for Cell Biology 46th Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA (December 9 - 13, 2006). "The experiments being presented at this year's ASCB Annual Meeting help to further our understanding of the basic science behind this exciting molecule," said Darrell H. Carney, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. "We have gained greater insight into how TP508 stimulates repair and revascularization of tissues; we believe that endothelial cells play a key role in a number of TP508 effects." The first presentation demonstrates binding and chemical cross-linking of TP508 to specific molecules on the surface of endothelial cells. This is the first identification of what may be a specific TP508 receptor. It therefore represents a significant step in understanding how TP508 activates cells. Dr. Carney and colleagues have explored the signals that are stimulated by TP508 binding to endothelial cells. Their studies, as described in the second presentation, show that TP508 increases the ability of endothelial cells to produce nitric oxide and that TP508 prevents negative effects caused by oxygen deprivation, a condition found in myocardial ischemia and chronic wounds. This discovery may provide a unifying hypothesis to explain how TP508 stimulates tissue repair, and raises the possibility that TP508 could be useful in treating a number of vascular diseases associated with aging where endothelial cells fail to produce nitric oxide. About the Receptor Binding Presentation "Demonstration of Specific Binding of TP508 to Receptors on Fibroblasts and Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells by Photo-Affinity Cross-Linking" TP508 is a non-proteolytic synthetic peptide representing the portion of human thrombin originally identified as the fibroblast high-affinity receptor binding domain. TP508 initiates cellular effects distinct from those of proteolytically active thrombin and has been postulated to bind a non-proteolytically activated thrombin receptor (NPAR). TP508 has been shown to accelerate revascularization and repair of animal tissues and to accelerate healing of bone fractures (based on x-ray evidence) and diabetic foot ulcers. The data presented show that TP508 specifically binds to one or more cell surface receptors. The data also provide initial characterization of receptor molecules that appear to be distinct from the PAR1 thrombin receptor. Ongoing characterization and sequencing will provide additional answers to advance the understanding of how these molecules relate to TP508 signaling. About the eNOS Presentation "Thrombin Peptide, TP508, Upregulates Expression and Activation of eNOS and Prevents Hypoxia-Induced eNOS Downregulation in Human Endothelial Cells" TP508 is being evaluated in preclinical tests for potential use in myocardial revascularization and other vascular indications. In animal models, TP508 accelerates repair and revascularization of dermal and musculoskeletal tissue and increases the density of blood vessels in ischemic myocardium. This abstract describes experiments in which the authors studied the effects of TP508 on endothelial cell nitric oxide (NO) signaling and the enzyme that produces NO (eNOS). Impaired NO production reduces the responsiveness of endothelial cells to angiogenic factors and causes loss of endothelial function in ischemic and inflamed blood vessels contributing to a number of chronic diseases. The authors hypothesized that TP508 may accelerate tissue repair by stimulating NO production or restoring the ability of dysfunctional cells to make NO. If so, TP508 may have potential therapeutic value in tissues and diseases exhibiting endothelial dysfunction. The studies show that in human coronary artery endothelial cells, TP508 increased phosphorylation of eNOS. This effect of TP508 was observed in normal cells and those cultured in low oxygen. TP508 also increased eNOS expression and prevented low oxygen-induced decreases in eNOS expression. Therefore, TP508 may exert its effects in a number of tissues by modulating eNOS activity and NO production in endothelial cells. About OrthoLogic OrthoLogic is a biotechnology company committed to developing a pipeline of novel therapeutic peptides and other molecules aimed at helping patients with under-served medical conditions. The Company is focused on the development and commercialization of two product platforms: Chrysalin(R) (TP508) and AZX100. Chrysalin, the Company's novel synthetic 23-amino acid peptide, is being studied in two lead indications, both of which represent areas of significant unmet medical need -- fracture repair and diabetic foot ulcer healing. Based on the Company's pioneering scientific research of the natural healing cascade, OrthoLogic has become a leading company focused on bone and tissue repair. The Company owns exclusive worldwide rights to Chrysalin. AZX100 is a novel synthetic pre-clinical 24-amino acid peptide, one of a new class of compounds in the field of smooth muscle relaxation called Intracellular Actin Relaxing Molecules, or ICARMs(TM). AZX100 is currently being evaluated for commercially significant medical applications, such as the treatment of vasospasm associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage, the prevention of keloid scarring and the treatment of asthma. OrthoLogic has an exclusive worldwide license to AZX100. OrthoLogic's corporate headquarters are in Tempe, Arizona. For more information, please visit the Company's website: http://www.orthologic.com/. Statements in this press release or otherwise attributable to OrthoLogic regarding our business that are not historical facts are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which include the timing and acceptability of FDA filings and the efficacy and marketability of potential products, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from predicted results. These risks include: delays in obtaining or inability to obtain FDA, institutional review board or other regulatory approvals of pre-clinical or clinical testing; unfavorable outcomes in our pre-clinical and clinical testing; the development by others of competing technologies and therapeutics that may have greater efficacy or lower cost; delays in obtaining or inability to obtain FDA or other necessary regulatory approval of our products; our inability to successfully and cost effectively develop or outsource manufacturing and marketing of any products we are able to bring to market; changes in FDA or other regulations that affect our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our products, increase our manufacturing costs or limit our ability to market our products; our possible need for additional capital in the future to fund the continued development of our product candidates; and other factors discussed in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. DATASOURCE: OrthoLogic Corp. CONTACT: Investors, Melanie Friedman of Stern Investor Relations, Inc., +1-212-362-1200, , for OrthoLogic Corp. Web site: http://www.orthologic.com/

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