Amarantus Biosciences Holdings Inc., with bases in San Francisco, USA and Geneva, Switzerland have announced the exercise of an option to exclusively license worldwide rights to intellectual property covering the use of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) – a protein capable of interfering with the course of apoptotic cell death. The protein has potential in the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa, AMD and glaucoma and is also in preclinical testing for Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury. The licensing deal follows on from an exclusive option struck last year between the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and the company. Commenting on the transaction, Gerald E. Commissiong, President and CEO of Amarantus stated, “with interim toxicology data now in hand, and with multiple data sets forthcoming in the third and fourth quarter for the MANF ophthalmology program focused initially on Retinitis pigmentosa, we believe now is the ideal time to exercise our option and move forward under the auspices of a full license agreement”.