Researchers Report Thymosin Beta 4 Crosses Blood-Brain Barrier In Animal Stroke Model
Findings Have Important Implications in the Treatment of Central Nervous System Diseases and Injury
PR Newswire
ROCKVILLE, Md.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB: RGRX) ("the Company" or "RegeneRx") today reported on data presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Thymosins in Health and Disease in Rome, Italy. 

"When thymosin beta 4 (TB4) linked with rhodamine (a fluorescent tracer dye) was injected into the peritoneal cavity in a rodent model of stroke, it was visualized outside of blood vessels and throughout the brain parenchyma (the functional tissue of the brain).   The leakage of TB4 in this rat model of embolic stroke confirmed our hypothesis that TB4 crossed the blood brain barrier since previous experiments using MRI and gadolinium showed compromise of the blood brain barrier in this model of embolic stroke," reported Dr. Daniel Morris, Senior Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI.

These experiments show the ability of TB4 to cross the blood-brain barrier, which is impermeable to most drugs.  Thus, health care providers would potentially have a novel means to treat patients of neurological injury in which the blood brain barrier is compromised, such as stroke, by systemically administering TB4 to accelerate repair and regenerate damaged brain tissue.

About RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.regenerx.com)

RegeneRx is focused on the development of a novel therapeutic peptide, Thymosin beta 4, for tissue and organ protection, repair and regeneration. RegeneRx currently has three drug candidates in clinical development for ophthalmic, cardiac, CNS and dermal indications, strategic licensing agreements in China, the EU, and in other Pan Asia countries, including Korea, Japan and Australia, and has an extensive worldwide patent portfolio covering its products.

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SOURCE RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.