Partners

Bengt von Mentzer

John Quinn

David Kendall

Peter Friberg

Andrew Russo

Eberhard Weihe

Bengt von Mentzer
Dr Bengt von Mentzer, originial founder, graduated as a scientist, PhD, 1985 at the department of Zoophysiology, Lund, Sweden. He has worked at the University of Leicester, UK, University of Iowa, Iowa and University of Boston, MA on GPCR functionality and fatty acid metabolism. He has been employed at the Departments of Physiology, Bioscience, Pharmacology and Molecular Pharmacology at AstraZeneca. During the last 10 years he has worked as a principal scientist and group leader and has inspired and sponsored new thinking in GI neuropeptide research.

John Quinn
J. P. Quinn obtained his PhD in Virology at the Medical Research Council Virology Unit, University of Glasgow. His postdoctoral research was at the in the National Cancer Institute at NIH, MD. He then returned to the UK to the Medical Research Council Brain Metabolism Unit in Edinburgh before taking up an academics post at the University of Edinburgh within the Veterinary School. Since 2001 he has been the Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Liverpool and holds an honorary post in the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London. His work is funded by government, charity and industrial support. He is focused on mechanisms that alter neurotransmitter gene expression in a number of diseases and conditions. Neurotransmitters are not only important in the brain, but are involved in the progression of a number of diseases of other organs and tissues such as obesity, arthritis and lung disease. More recently this molecular and biochemical approach has been complemented by collaboration with a number of clinical genetic groups addressing how genetic polymorphism in neurotransmitters and the signal pathways that control their expression influences our predisposition to such depression, anxiety, epilepsy and motor neurone disease. The current information from genome wide association studies and novel candidate genes from biochemical analysis of specific neurological conditions is providing novel insight into therapeutic windows for intervention and drug selection. Our experience in gene regulation is allowing us to overlay epigenetic variation in response to challenge upon the clinical data, which is beginning to determine mechanisms by which nurture and nature combine to develop the individual.

David Kendall
David Kendall, University of Nottingham Medical School. David Kendall started his career as a pharmacist and after completing his PhD in neuropharmacology in Liverpool, spent time in the pharmaceutical industry before moving to Houston, Texas to pursue research in receptor pharmacology. On his return to England he worked in Leicester University researching G protein-coupled receptor signalling with particular emphasis on the effects of CNS-active drugs. He is now Professor of Pharmacology in Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School. The Nottingham group have an established reputation in multidisciplinary GPCR research and, over the past decade, they have become well known for their work on the endocannabinoid signalling system. Pain research has been an important focus and Nottingham has been accorded the status of Centre of Excellence in Pain Research by the Arthritis Research Campaign. The group takes a “bench to bedside” approach ranging from molecular studies to clinical evaluations. They are currently funded by UK Research Councils, medical charities and pharmaceutical company collaborations. David Kendall is an author of over 200 peer-reviewed articles.

Peter Friberg
Professor of Clinical Physiology, Göteborg University, and senior consultant, clinical physiology/internal medicine (hypertension clinic). Prof. Friberg have several awards in circulation and hypertension. Prof Friberg has also been elected member of several clinical boards including the Swedish Society of Medicine and chairman of its research committeé, 2003-2008, faculty board, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University 2003-2007 and president of the Swedish Society of Clinical Physiology 2006-2007. Prof. Friberg have published some 200 articles within the cardiovascular field, both experimentally and clinically. The publications from my early period, 1982 and onwards, dealt with experimental hypertension in rats. Studies were aimed at assessing structure and function of the cardiovascular system, and the effects of antihypertensive treatment. During many years he had close collaboration with Hässle/Astra Hässle. Among other things I studied the influence of long-term treatment with metoprolol and felodipine (in their preclinical phase) on cardiac and coronary vascular structure and function. Hence, I had the great opportunity to follow these pharmaceuticals from an early start all the way until registration. Same thing with omeprazol, although I was not directly involved. I have had, and still have, collaboration with Astra (AstraZeneca) for the recent 25 years, very fruitfully. My present research involve studies of obese adolescents both in terms of vascular structure and function and the autonomic nervous system and metabolic signalling. We are presently performing Roux-En-Y surgical procedure in obese adolescents and examine not only demographics but the intricate play between gut hormones and the brain and insulin levels before and after surgery (hepato-pancreatic-brain axis). Notably, insulin levels fall dramatically only a few days postoperatively. Thus, this clinical procedure is at the same time constituting a relevant pathophysiological model.

Andrew Russo
Dr. Russo received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley with Dr. Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. He did postdoctoral training in molecular neurobiology at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Russo is currently a Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and Director of the Biosciences Program at the University of Iowa. Dr. Russo has served on NIH and private grant review panels, committees for the Society for Neuroscience and American Physiological Society, and has received several teaching awards. The primary focus of Dr. Russo’s research is to understand the molecular basis of migraine. The major focus of the lab is on the neuropeptide CGRP, which is elevated during migraine. Injection of CGRP into migraineurs causes a migraine-like headache and CGRP receptor antagonists are in clinical trials as antimigraine drugs. His lab has found that the CGRP gene is up-regulated by cytokine-induced MAP kinases and repressed by antimigraine drugs. Surprisingly, the common target of these agents appears to be the transcription factor, USF1/2, which acts at a neuron-specific enhancer. The lab is currently investigating the epigenetic mechanisms controlling this enhancer. A major effort in the lab has been to generate a mouse model for studying migraine. Towards this goal, transgenic mice that overexpress the RAMP1 subunit of the CGRP receptor in the nervous system have been made. The RAMP1 transgenic mice are sensitized to CGRP-induced neurogenic inflammation and nociception. Interestingly, the RAMP1 mice display a unique phenotype of central sensitization and light aversion that suggests these mice may provide a model for some aspects of migraine. In collaborative projects, the lab is also studying the beneficial effects of CGRP against hypertension and obesity with the overall goal to develop effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for neurovascular disorders.

Eberhard Weihe
Eberhard Weihe, MD, Professor & Chair of Anatomy/Molecular Neuroscience; 30 years experience in core funded and academic neuroscience research including collaborative grants with industry on molecular and cellular mechanisms of preclinical and clinical pain, inflammation, infection and neuroimmune interactions; Specialities: Core facility of molecular histology and laser microdissection (with Dr. Martin KH Schäfer); cell-specific gene expression profiling; transgenic mouse models relevant for pain research. Vice Director of Marburg Center for Tumor and Immune Biology (CTI).

Board

Lars Sundström

Michael A. Adams

Enar Carlsson

Björn Ericsson

Katarina Beierlein

Lars Sundström
Professor Lars Sundstrom is the Director of SARTRE, Severnside Alliance for Translational Research, and holds academic positions at the University of Bristol and Cardiff. Lars is also a director and founder of Capsant Technologies LTD.

Michael A. Adams
Michael A. Adams, Ph.D., Professor and Acting Head Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Enar Carlsson
Enar Carlsson is Associate Professor in Pharmacology at Gothenburg University. He has a long career, more than 35 years, within Astra and AstraZeneca and has had several management positions, including Director of Gastrointestinal Research for a number of years.

Björn Ericsson
Björn Ericsson has an extensive experience from a number of managerial positions with the pharmaceutical industry, in particular AstraZeneca. Björn has a solid working experience from the Swedish as well as the international market. Björn has been deeply involved in the strategic development of marketing activities in a number of product areas and has also taken direct responsibility for the implementation of these strategies. He has also been responsible for several projects within the area of business development. As CEO for the AstraZeneca subsidiaries in China, Hong Kong and Norway, with an additional responsibility for business development in East Asia, Björn has been responsible for, and actively involved in, issues related to strategy, organisational development and business development, as well as working with political initiatives and health care authorities.

Katarina Beierlein
Katarina Beierlein holds an executive MBA from Stockholm University and a BSc from Organic Chemistry at Uppsala University. She has over 18 years experience from the pharmaceutical industry from managerial and project leading positions at Pharmacia and Biovitrum. Currently she holds a position as Business Director of Semcon Drug Development Consulting.

AZ CNS-Neuroscience

Pharmnovo now bring together our partnering groups with all science involved and formulate a platform of companies, academia and regions in Sweden to be able to take on some of the AZ CNS-Neuroscience assets. With that we also show delivery possibilities within science and with regional support companies to science. We will also focus on back delivery of assets, new as old to the Pharmaceutical Industry. That will represent one progress posssibility for Pharmnovo as a production line build company.

Board Meeting Februray 2012

Almost all Pharmnovo partners and board members gathered at Trinovo Consulting Conference offices in Gothenburg. All Pharmnovo active countries were represented, SWE (Gothenburg University), UK (University of Nottingham and University of Bristol) and GER (Univertsity of Marburg). The core group of the Pharmnovo board, Bengt von Mentzer, Lars Sundström, Björn Ericsson and Katarina Beierlien were present. The discussions mostely consisted of the outsourcing from AZ CNS Neuroscience. Pharmnovo have decided to activate a large group of companies and collaboraters including the regional support possibilities from Gothenburg and Stockholm to become a stakeholder of the outsourcing assets. These can be seen in our new Pharmnovo brochure.

Pharmnovo Research Meeting Februray 11th

The Reserch meeting explained our new chemistry and effects of molecules in pain. Pharmnovo today have new assets in a number of molecules for pain treatment and also process these in vivo on specific pain models in mice. Some molecules have shown very good effect on a chronic pain model (Seltzer model) and the effect also follow our defined mechanism of action. The compounds are very potent and selective delta receptor agonists which seem to lack behaviour sedative effects but induce a perfect protection against pain in our experimental models. Several new behaviour animla models are now processed further to be used in a behaviour biology test platform. Our chemistry also speeds up with new molecule design within the company and OncoTargetting as our accociate CRO contiunue to synthesize newly desigend molecules as well as scale up compounds. The newly positive results in animla in vivo models have given the company a push forward towards investors and new science.

New company brochure

The new company brochure will appear on the front page just below Pharmnovo summary 2012

Press Release on Pharmnovo take over of AZ patent

Pharmnovo takes on an AstraZeneca patent in migraine and pain research. Pharmnovo today announced that the company has taken over an AstraZeneca patent for the rights to develop novel therapies for the treatment of migraine and other painful conditions. AstraZeneca grants Pharmnovo access to the patent W02004-101522, to explore potential therapies. The patent give a significant boost to Pharmnovo’s candidate drugs (CDs) selection programme for 2011, representing the first time the company takes over a patent with the goal of delivering new drugs for the treatment of pain. Pharmnovo has also established its own chemistry development capacity which aims to deliver CDs in 2013 for the treatment of acute migraine. “This agreement provides the company with an excellent basis for further development of new treatment approaches in a field with a huge medical need,” says Pharmnovo CEO Bengt von Mentzer. Pharmnovo’s approach to medicine development combines biomedical research expertise from academia and the pharmaceutical industry to develop novel treatments, based on neuropeptide receptors, for migraine and other pain conditions. The company has deep expertise in drug discovery project organization and development to advance novel lead research compounds towards the clinic. In addition, Pharmnovo also has key partnerships with companies, researchers at the universities of Gothenburg, Liverpool, Nottingham and Iowa and a distinguished pharmaceutical/academic research board to help advance Pharmnovo’s work. “We believe that Pharmnovo is ideally positioned to explore the potential that these compounds hold,” says Christer Köhler, Vice-president, CNS&Pain Innovative Medicines, at AstraZeneca. About Pharmnovo: Pharmnovo was established in 2008 with several highly qualified researchers. Today, Professor David Kendall is acting CSO, Björn Ericsson and Lars Sundström act as vice CEOs and Bengt von Mentzer CEO. This well structured company team has multiple connections with academia and has an outstanding research knowledge network in chronic pain, epilepsy, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, neuropeptide receptor interactions and genetics, underpinning translational research with a migraine focus. Pharmnovo has broadened its investor portfolio during 2011 and the company’s goal is to pursue a first exit plan, to take place in 2011. www.pharmnovo.com For contact: Bengt von Mentzer, mobile: +46735450269, tel: +4631205929, e-mail: bengt.mentzer@pharmnovo.com

2011-05-01 Patent from AstraZeneca

Pharmnovo buy a patent from AstraZeneca in the disesae area of pain. A press release will soon be on the website.

Pharmnovo Chemistry Ongoing

New Chemistry started in Pharmnovo for a few month ago and the first part is now ready. The chemistry of Pharmnovo is now also processed further in our biology team at the University of Nottingham aiming at novel discovery of CGRP receptor antagonists for the treatment of migraine and chronic pain.

Pharmnovo Press Release, AstraZeneca License Agreement

Pharmnovo today announced that the company has signed a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca concerning the development of novel therapies for the treatment of migraine.

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will grant Pharmnovo access to a library of approximately 50 compounds which Pharmnovo will explore for potential migraine therapies. AstraZeneca will have the right of first refusal for any commercial opportunities arising from this collaboration. No further terms of the agreement were disclosed.

“The agreement is ground breaking for Pharmnovo and provides the company with an excellent basis for further development of these compounds for new treatment approaches in a field with a huge medical need“, says Pharmnovo CEO Bengt von Mentzer.

Pharmnovos novel approach to medicine development combines a unique blend of biomedical research expertise from both academia and the pharmaceutical industry to develop novel treatments, based on neuropeptide receptors, for migraine and other painful conditions. The company has outstanding expertise in drug discovery project organization and development which will be used to advance novel lead research compounds towards the clinic. Key partners are researchers at the Universities of Gothenburg, Liverpool, Nottingham and Iowa, a distinguished pharmaceutical/academic research board and several key supporting companies including Semcon Drug Development Consulting, Syntagon AB and Sensa Corporate Advisors AB.

“This agreement is an example of AstraZenecas strategy of collaborating in order to more efficiently bring therapies for important medical conditions to the market. Pharmnovo is an ideal partner in the migraine area, with a structure-based drug discovery platform technology well suited for the optimization of these compounds,” says Philippe Walker, Interim Global Vice President, CNS and Pain Research Area, AstraZeneca.

About Pharmnovo: Pharmnovo was founded in 2008 by Bengt von Mentzer, constructing an outstanding research knowledge network in chronic pain, inflammation, neuropeptide receptor interactions and genetics, underpinning translational research with a migraine focus. Pharmnovo will broaden its investor portfolio in the coming years to support its increasing presence in the biomedical area.

For contact: Bengt von Mentzer, mobile: +46735450269, tel: +4631205929, e-mail: bengt.mentzer@pharmnovo.com

Pharmnovo take an Open Innovation Strategy into practize

Pharmnovo have adopted an ”Open Innovation Strategy”, which means;

• Positioning the company at the interface between academia and industry
• Forming strategic alliances with University researchers with expertise in targeted drug discovery areas
• Developing strategic alliances with key drug discovery companies
• Exploiting industrial compound libraries to deliver novel drug discovery outcomes to big Pharma

Our strategy is underpinned by academic research expertise coupled with wide-ranging experience in drug discovery and development

Collaboration with University of Iowa

Pharmnovo have started a collaboration with University of Iowa in migraine research. This is a major achievement for the company and will widen our possibilities to act faster and more efficient in our drug delivery process.

Pharmnovo start a collaboration with Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham

Pharmnovo AB and its partners have started a collaboration with Universities of Liverpool and Nottingham. Together we will formulate a consortium for an "Open Innovation Strategy" eanabling an open and trustful collaboration between academia and small, as well as large, companies in Biomedicine.

Pharmnovo Press Release, AstraZeneca License Agreement

Pharmnovo AB has signed a license agreement with AstraZeneca AB with the aim to process compounds for migraine treatment. Read full press release

Change of Pharmnovo

From September 4th several new collaborators will be active in Pharmnovo. The company will with that start the research laboratory and drive the academic ongoing research program in migraine. New partners will soon be presented.

Research Laboratory

Pharmnovo has started a collaboration with Professor Peter Friberg, Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska Hospital. The collaboration include novel research in disease areas of pain, migraine and obesity. The Pharmnovo focus on migraine with novel ideas on compound invention will proceed according to the Pharmnovo strategy.

New publication

Neurokinin receptor species difference, see publication

Pharmnovo signs licensing agreement with AstraZeneca in migraine research

Pharmnovo today announced that the company has signed a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca concerning the development of novel therapies for the treatment of migraine.

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will grant Pharmnovo access to a library of approximately 50 compounds which Pharmnovo will explore for potential migraine therapies. AstraZeneca will have the right of first refusal for any commercial opportunities arising from this collaboration. No further terms of the agreement were disclosed.

“The agreement is ground breaking for Pharmnovo and provides the company with an excellent basis for further development of these compounds for new treatment approaches in a field with a huge medical need“, says Pharmnovo CEO Bengt von Mentzer.

Pharmnovos novel approach to medicine development combines a unique blend of biomedical research expertise from both academia and the pharmaceutical industry to develop novel treatments, based on neuropeptide receptors, for migraine and other painful conditions. The company has outstanding expertise in drug discovery project organization and development which will be used to advance novel lead research compounds towards the clinic. Key partners are researchers at the Universities of Gothenburg, Liverpool, Nottingham and Iowa, a distinguished pharmaceutical/academic research board and several key supporting companies including Semcon AB, Syntagon AB and Sensa Corporate Advisors AB.

“This agreement is an example of AstraZenecas strategy of collaborating in order to more efficiently bring therapies for important medical conditions to the market. Pharmnovo is an ideal partner in the migraine area, with a structure-based drug discovery platform technology well suited for the optimization of these compounds,” says Philippe Walker, Interim Global Vice President, CNS and Pain Research Area, AstraZeneca.

About Pharmnovo: Pharmnovo was founded in 2008 by Bengt von Mentzer, constructing an outstanding research knowledge network in chronic pain, inflammation, neuropeptide receptor interactions and genetics, underpinning translational research with a migraine focus. Pharmnovo will broaden its investor portfolio in the coming years to support its increasing presence in the biomedical area.

For contact: Bengt von Mentzer, mobile: +46735450269, tel: +4631205929, e-mail: bengt.mentzer@pharmnovo.com