Our History

Search initiated 2008

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About us » Our history

With chronic pain treatment focus

PharmNovo was founded in 2008 by Bengt von Mentzer after 27 years as a drug discovery group leader for Astra Zeneca. With a focus on chronic pain treatment, PharmNovo started to develop novel delta opioid receptor agonists.

With chemist, Ingemar Starke, new chemistry was developed and we identified novel potent, selective and biased DOR agonists (a new concept in pharmacology at the time). In 2010, David Kendall, Professor of Pharmacology at Nottingham University, UK joined the company part time and became full time CSO in 2015.

In 2016 a collaboration with Professor Eamon Kelly’s research group at the University of Bristol was started with the aim of studying delta opioid receptor biased agonism. This collaboration has been supported by grants from the UK Medical Research Council.

Pre-clinical studies were completed for the candidate compound PN6047 with very promising results and at the end of the year PharmNovo was granted a patent in the USA.

2008 Q1

AZ project

AstraZeneca granted PharmNovo AB a project application of novel delta agonists including 105 molecules, data and compound. The compounds and patent application were abandoned 2012 following invention of our own molecules.

2009

VGR I

VGR (Västra Götaland) fund PharmNovo with 0.4 million SEK.

2011

VGR II

VGR fund PharmNovo with 0.45 million SEK.

2012

CD

Two candidate selective and biased delta agonists chosen, PN6047 and PN6053.

2014/2015

Angel Investor

Angel Investor funds PharmNovo with £200.000 + £100.000 on two occasions, 2014 and 2015.

2014/2015

CD patent applications

Patent applications with PN6047, PN6053 and others.

2015/2016

CD patent applications withdrawn

Both patents withdrawn from Swedish Patent Office and resubmitted as PCT applications and further 2016 as European patent application and 2017 as world wide patent application.

2016

MRC grant approved

Medical Research Council grant for three years approved with Eamonn Kelly, U. of Bristol,.

2017

European Patent demand defended and approved

European patent demand defended.

2018

Capital investment and US patent received

New Capital investments in Q3 to finance patent costs and finalize pre-clinical studies. US patent granted for PN6047 in Q4 2018 and European patent in final approval process.

2019

Complete toxicology plan

A synthesis method for large-scale production of PN6047 was developed in Q1 and following that pre toxicology studies leading up to a complete regulatory toxicology plan were continued.

2020

CEO appointed

New Chief Executive Officer effective May 2020 and pre-clinical studies were initiated.

2021

Pre-clinical studies

The last major patent was granted in Canada for PN6047 and the results from the pre-clinical studies showed that PN6047 has a high-efficacy and a low toxicity.

2022

Start of clinical trials

The Clinical Trial Application (CTA) submitted to the MPA and was approved in the summer. Phase I studie was initiated and first dose in human was given in August at CTC Clinical Trial Consultants AB.

2023

Phase I clinical trials

Phase I is ongoing and the planning for Phase II Proof of Concept in 2024.

Latest news

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May 2, 2023

PharmNovo attending LSX 3–4 May

PharmNovo will participate in the LSX World Congress in London, 3-4 May. Our CEO, Per von Mentzer, will present PharmNovo and the latest progress in the ongoing clinical trial of our innovative new drug candidate for neuropathic pain, PN6047.

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May 2, 2023

Jesper Kjerulff leads again

PharmNovo is very pleased to inform you that our former project leader, Jesper Kjerulff has returned as project leader and Chief Operations Officer.

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December 22, 2022

PharmNovo at Biostock

CEO Per von Mentzer presented PharmNovo at the BioStock - Connecting Innovation and Capital Life Science Fall Summit 2022. Watch his presentation addressing the large, unmet medical needs in the neuropathic pain market and learn more about our ongoing clinical trial and how we will achieve project milestones as PharmNovo moves forward.

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October 11, 2022

Strengthening the team

PharmNovo has strengthened the team with a new experienced Project Manager and a Clinical Trial Manager

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