Science

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is an inducible enzyme downstream of the cyclooxygenase enzymes, is upregulated by inflammatory stimuli and is involved in the inflammatory processes of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Use of mPGES-1 inhibitors in microvascular disease:

Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are common in chronic inflammatory diseases due to vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.

Selective deletion of mPGES-1 activity leads to anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory and platelet inhibitory effects.

GS-248 –A First in Class opportunity with combined anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory and platelet inhibitory effects

GS-248 –A First in Class opportunity with combined anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory and platelet inhibitory effects

Our research has revealed novel uses for mPGES-1 inhibitors in the treatment of microvascular inflammation and represents a unique opportunity for development of new medicines.

Products

Gesynta Pharma develops selective mPGES-1 inhibitors for microvascular diseases in chronic inflammatory conditions with the clinical candidate, GS-248, entering clinical phase development in mid 2019.

GS-248, is a highly potent mPGES-1 inhibitor with excellent drug-like properties in development for a first indication, which is an orphan disease with few approved treatments and those available have severe side effects which are limiting their use.

Drug Discovery. We also recently acquired a late-stage drug discovery project, including several proprietary molecules originating from a major pharmaceutical company, which will broaden the project pipeline with potent and druggable molecules to be explored for treatment of additional, broader cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Company

Gesynta Pharma was founded on the basis of:

  • access to potent and selective mPGES-1 inhibitors for pharmacological research and clinical development
  • proprietary knowledge of novel aspects of biological/medical effects caused by mPGES-1 inhibition leading to new opportunities in novel indications
  • a team with extensive experience

Gesynta Pharma has been supported by Karolinska Institutet Innovation AB, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Swelife and VINNOVA - Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation

Team

Founders

Gesynta Pharma is being actively managed by its founders, who contribute extensive experience in the fields of mPGES-1 research, medical, drug development through their work in board and management team

Group photo
Gesynta Pharma founders (Front left to right: Gunilla Ekström, Charlotte Edenius, Urban Paulsson. Back left to right: Ralf Morgenstern, Per-Johan Jakobsson, Patric Stenberg)

Board of Directors

Urban Paulsson Urban Paulsson
Chairman

Maarten de Château Maarten de Château
Board member

Charlotte Edenius Charlotte Edenius
Board member

Per-Johan Jakobsson Per-Johan Jakobsson
Board member

• Co-Founder, LLM
• 20+ years in the life science industry including inhouse counsel at Pharmacia Corporation and general counsel at Vitrolife AB. Focused on transactions involving licensing, acquisitions and divestment.
• Co-founder of Cormorant Pharmaceuticals (acquired by BMS in 2016). Chairman of several pharma companies

• MD/PhD
• Co-founder and former CEO of Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB
• Other positions include CEO of Sixera Pharma AB, VP Medical Strategy and Innovation at Camurus AB, and board positions at OxThera, Atrogi, AddBio and Cavis Technologies.

• Co-Founder, MD/PhD
• 25+ years in eicosanoid research and drug development
• 20+ years in pharmaceutical industry incl. leading positions at AZ, Biolipox, Orexo and Medivir
• Experience from all phases of drug development, senior management and strategic business development incl. successful partnering/licensing (e.g. with BI on mPGES inhibitors and J&J on arachidonic acid related targets)

• Co-Founder, MD/PhD
• 25+ years within pharmaceutical industry, incl. leading positions at AZ, Orexo, Karolinska Development and Immuneed
• Extensive experience of drug development, from discovery to clinic development
• CEO of virtual companies, non-executive Director on several pharma companies, eg NovaSAID

• Co-Founder, Professor
• Dept of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, specialist in rheumatology and Extensive experience in eicosanoid research.
• The author of > 130 articles
• Group leader at KI (ki.se/en/meds/research-group-per-johan-jakobsson-0)• Discovered and characterized the mPGES-1 in 1998

Gunnar Olsson Gunnar Olsson
Board member

William Gunnarsson William Gunnarsson
Board member

Bita Sehat Bita Sehat
Board member

• MD/PhD
• Specialist in Cardiology and Internal Medicine
• Formerly Vice President & Head of Cardiovascular & Gastrointestinal Therapy Areas, Global R&D, AZ
• Other board positions include Athera Biotechnology AB, IR Lab AB, Cereno Scientific AB, European Society of Cardiology

• BA in Science and Economy
• 45+ years in the pharmaceutical industry, including Bristol Myers and Nobel Pharma.
• Founder of Orphan Europe Sarl which was sold to the Recordati Group, Italy. Board member of Synphora, Sensidose, Sixera, Prostalund and Premalux

• PhD, MBA
• +10 years of academic research experience at Karolinska institutet & McGill University
• Investment banking & asset valuation experience at Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec & Foster Rosenblatt in Kanada

Management Team

Patric Stenberg Patric Stenberg
CEO

Charlotte Edenius Charlotte Edenius
Clinical

Gunilla Ekström Gunilla Ekström
Pre-clinical/regulatory

Ralf Morgenstern Ralf Morgenstern
Research

• Co-Founder, PhD
• 20 + years in pharmaceutical and ADME research and development, 15 years in industry
• CEO, CSO, BD, staff scientist of pharmaceutical business, research and development efforts from discovery to phase III
• Corporate experience ranging from virtual companies (eg NovaSAID) to major pharma (eg Pfizer)

• Co-Founder, MD/PhD
• 25+ years in eicosanoid research and drug development
• 20+ years in pharmaceutical industry incl. leading positions at AZ, Biolipox, Orexo and Medivir
• Experience from all phases of drug development, senior management and strategic business development incl. successful partnering/licensing (e.g. with BI on mPGES inhibitors and J&J on arachidonic acid related targets)

• Co-Founder, MD/PhD
• 25+ years within pharmaceutical industry, incl. leading positions at AZ, Orexo, Karolinska Development and Immuneed
• Extensive experience of drug development, from discovery to clinic development
• CEO of virtual companies, non-executive Director on several pharma companies, eg NovaSAID

• Co-Founder, Professor
• Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
• Expert in structure, mechanism and function of MAPEG (Membrane Associated Proteins in Eicosanoid and Glutathione metabolism) enzymes
• The author of > 175 articles and book chapters• Discovered and characterised the mPGES-1 in 1998

Urban Paulsson Urban Paulsson
Business and legal

• Co-Founder, LLM
• 20+ years in the life science industry including inhouse counsel at Pharmacia Corporation and general counsel at Vitrolife AB. Focused on transactions involving licensing, acquisitions and divestment.
• Co-founder of Cormorant Pharmaceuticals (acquired by BMS in 2016). Chairman of several pharma companies

Development team leaders

Patric Stenberg
Project manager

Maths Nilsson
CMC director

Anna Sandholm
Pre-clinical director

Charlotte Edenius
Clinical director

• Co-Founder, PhD
• 20 + years in pharmaceutical and ADME research and development, 15 years in industry
• CEO, CSO, BD, staff scientist of pharmaceutical business, research and development efforts from discovery to phase III
• Corporate experience ranging from virtual companies (eg NovaSAID) to major pharma (eg Pfizer)

• M.Sc. Organic Chemistry
• 20+ years experience of API manufacture within the pharmaceutical industry
• Involved in projects ranging from early phase development to commercial production
• Earlier positions: Senior Scientist, Process Chemistry and Senior Process Engineer at AstraZeneca, CMC Project Manager at Medivir

• PhD
• Responsible for the nonclinical development, consultant
• 15+ years in pharmaceutical industry e.g. project leader, group manager at AZ and senior consultant in drug development
• Extensive experience of drug development, from discovery to clinical development

• Co-Founder, MD/PhD
• 25+ years in eicosanoid research and drug development
• 20+ years in pharmaceutical industry incl. leading positions at AZ, Biolipox, Orexo and Medivir
• Experience from all phases of drug development, senior management and strategic business development incl. successful partnering/licensing (e.g. with BI on mPGES inhibitors and J&J on arachidonic acid related targets)

Göran Tornling
CMO

Per-Johan Jakobsson
Research director

Gunilla Ekström
Regulatory director

• MD/PhD/Associate professor
• The author of > 100 articles and book chapters
• 15+ years in pharmaceutical industry incl. leading positions at AZ, Biolipox and Orexo
• Experience from all phases of drug development

• Co-Founder, Professor
• Dept of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, specialist in rheumatology and Extensive experience in eicosanoid research.
• The author of > 130 articles• Group leader at KI (ki.se/en/meds/research-group-per-johan-jakobsson-0)
• Discovered and characterized the mPGES-1 in 1998

• Co-Founder, MD/PhD
• 25+ years within pharmaceutical industry, incl. leading positions at AZ, Orexo, Karolinska Development and Immuneed
• Extensive experience of drug development, from discovery to clinic development
• CEO of virtual companies, non-executive Director on several pharma companies, eg NovaSAID

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