Carantech is an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing an integrated strategy to dramatically improve treatment for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. 

MS is a disorder of the central nervous system affecting more than 400,000 Americans and as many as 2.5 million individuals worldwide. Every week, 200 individuals are newly diagnosed with MS.  Women are affected by MS at a ratio of nearly 2:1. A report in January 2006 issue of Neurology estimated the one year prevalence for MS has increased to almost 1/1000 people. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society research fact sheet in 2006, the annual economic cost of MS in the U.S. is about $23 billion due to lost in productivity, medical care, and other expenses. The cost and benefit of current treatments on the market today are unclear due to their marginal performance in controlling patients' progression toward disability and undesirable side-effects.

MS probably begins in childhood, but first visible symptoms appear in the second or third decade of life. The real cause of MS is not yet known for certain, but involves a malfunction of the immune system resulting in an autoimmune response against self components.  As with other autoimmune diseases, following a triggering event, perhaps a viral infection, and likely involving genetic susceptibility factors, the immune system attacks the person’s own tissues and organs, causing their destruction. This attack involve a complex interplay between the cells of the immune system (T cells, B cells, macrophages), and those of the brain including nerve cells (neurons), myelin (insulating sheaths necessary for properly functioning electrical conduction along the nerve fibers), and myelin-producing cells (oligodendrocytes). The extent of damage and its specific locations are responsible for the various presentations and symptoms of MS.  MS is variable in its clinical course, underlying genetics, and response to treatment, and probably represents a group of related conditions.  Some forms of MS may be driven mainly by T cell responses, some by a combination of T cell and B cell/antibody response, and others may be due to a degenerative process affecting oligodendrocytes.  At the present time, there is no accurate means of identifying the different subtypes of MS, or predicting response to treatment.

Carantech is currently evaluating candidates to minimize immune system-mediated neurological damage suffered by Multiple Sclerosis patients. The Company's game-changing approach is to specifically manage the destructive pathways in order to halt patients' progression toward disability. The Carantech team intends to leverage the same therapeutic strategy to combat other major devastating autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders.

35 Miller Avenue #213 · Mill Valley, CA 94941 · info@carantech.com