New Company Pharmasum Therapeutics Aims To Fast Track Development Novel Protein Kinease Inhibitors For Alzheimer's And Dementia
Oslo, April 15, 2014 – An experienced Norwegian-British team today announced the establishment of Pharmasum Therapeutics, a company focusing on drug discovery and development for brain disorders. The company’s initial candidate PST-900, which it aims to take into clinic by 2016, has thepotential for slowing down the progression of dementia. Initial studies will be performed in Down syndrome individuals, which an increasing body of evidence indicates provide a model for the wider general population of dementia.
Pharmasum sees its key competence as commercialising excellence in neurology, structural biology and drug design within the field of protein kinase inhibitors. After recent failures aimed at treating the amyloid plaques that were thought to be the most important disease pathology in Alzheimer’s, there is now substantial interest in alternative targets for treatment of dementia. According to CEO Anders Fugelli, formerly of GSK and Lytix: “Pharmasum has a collection of small-molecule inhibitors highly specific for certain protein kinases that have potential within a number of neurological disorders. We will initially fast-track our programme aimed at inhibiting the progression of Alzheimer´s disease that occurs with a high incidence in individuals with Down syndrome. We believe this population is a risk-reducing stepping-stone on the way to test whether inhibiting a specific protein kinase can slow down the disease in a more general Alzheimer’s disease population.”
The team behind Pharmasum have extensive global experience within neurology R&D from GSK as well as start-up company experience. “In order to capitalise on the commercial potential that lies in our advanced compound collection, Pharmasum is currently looking for additional funding to complement research grants. This will enable us to perform Lead Optimisation work before preparing for entry into clinical trials”, says Fugelli.
Pharmasum aim to partner the project with larger pharmaceutical companies for later stage clinical development.
For further information, contact:
Anders Fugelli, CEO
+47 924 81 432
afugelli@pharmasum.com
Media: Richard Hayhurst
+44 7711 821 527
Richard@richardhayhurstassociates.com
Richard Hayhurst
Richard Hayhurst Associates Ltd
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Warwickshire CV37 8RL
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T: +44 (0) 7711821527
E: Richard@richardhayhurstassociates.com
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