BiOasis Announces Completion Of Mass Spectrometry Method Intended To Assist With In Vitro Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 13, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- biOasis Technologies Inc. (TSX-V:BTI) announced today the completion of the development and initial testing of a second method to detect levels of a serum protein (p97) that is reported to be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The project, which was initiated and announced in late 2008, was intended to develop a SISCAPA (Stable Isotope Standards and Capture by Anti-Peptide Antibodies) assay capable of detecting and measuring protein levels in human plasma.

SISCAPA is a new proprietary technique that was developed to measure the levels of proteins in human plasma and is based on immunoaffinity enrichment of peptide surrogates of biomarker proteins and their identification by mass spectrometry. The technique offers excellent analytical performance featuring robustness to sample degradation and common interferences such as autoantibodies that may be seen in biological fluids.

The SISCAPA assay for p97 was developed for biOasis by the Anderson Forchung Group of Washington DC. AFG is a privately held company working to advance technologies for biomarker measurement, with a focus on proteins useful in clinical diagnostics. "The SISCAPA assay has demonstrated the ability to reliably detect p97 in plasma, and will assist biOasis with providing unique and valuable diagnostic tools" said Leigh Anderson, AFG's chief executive officer.

"We are extremely lucky to have a close relationship with the Anderson Forchung Group. They are the inventors of the SISCAPA technique and the founder of AFG, Dr. Leigh Anderson, is an advisor to biOasis," says Rob Hutchison CEO. "The Company intends to use the SISCAPA assay within the Cognitest™ development program, and is exploring additional commercial opportunities for the method."

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biOasis is developing a proprietary blood test for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease - Cognitest™. Current initiatives within the Cognitest™ program include product and method development, validation using human samples, and regulatory approval in Europe. To enable faster adoption and greater use of Cognitest™ the Company intends to out license it to multiple corporate partners.