Gesynta Pharma
- is a privately-held pharmaceutical company developing novel oral treatments for patients with chronic inflammatory conditions
- is based in Stockholm and has a virtual set-up with a management team highly experienced in drug development
Science
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including traditional NSAIDs and selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors are widely prescribed medications for inflammatory indications, despite well-known side effects.
Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is an inducible enzyme downstream of the COX enzymes and is upregulated by inflammatory stimuli. It is therefore a superior target for the treatment of various conditions where inflammation is a component.
In-house research has revealed novel uses for mPGES-1 inhibitors in the treatment of conditions with an inflammatory component and represents an opportunity for development of new medicines for certain indications.
While NSAIDs have been associated with dose-limiting safety issues, including serious cardiovascular (CV) and gastrointestinal (GI) side effect, mPGES-1 inhibitors may in contrast exert a beneficial effect on vascular function.
Preclinical data support that the CV and GI side effects of the NSAIDs may be attributed to the suppression of COX-2-mediated prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis. Therefore, agents that suppress synthesis of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 without inhibition of PGI2 synthesis may achieve the efficacy of NSAIDs without the increased risk of complications. Inhibition of mPGES-1 may therefore represent a novel treatment option for inflammatory conditions, without the undesirable toxicities from the classical NSAIDs.
Product
The candidate drug is a highly selective mPGES-1 inhibitor with excellent drug-like properties in preclinical development for a first niche inflammatory indication, where there is a large medical need for efficacious and safe treatment options
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 and VINNOVA - Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation
Team
Gesynta Pharma is being actively managed by its founders and board members, who contribute extensive experience in the fields of mPGES-1 research, medical, drug development, legal and business.
In a virtual setting, additional expertise is being engaged on a consultancy basis and experimental work is being conducted by CRO's.
Founder/Board of Directors
• 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
• 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.
• Professor, Co-Founder
• 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
• 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
• MD/PhD
• Specialist in Cardiology and Internal Medicine
• Formerly Vice President & Head of Cardiovascular & Gastrointestinal Therapy Areas, Global R&D, Astrazeneca
• Other board positions include Athera Biotechnology AB, IR Lab AB, Cereno Scientific AB, European Society of Cardiology
• LLM, Co-Founder
• 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
• Co-Founder, MD/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)