Bionure to start clinical phase on neuroprotector in 2013
La biotecnològica catalana ha establert la seu al Parc Científic de Barcelona i una filial a Silicon Valley.
By Biocat
Bionure, a biotech spin-off devoted to research and development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases –in particular for multiple sclerosis– will move into the clinical phase in 2013 with a neuroprotective drug that is currently in phase I.
"Our intention is to continue on with the regulatory preclinical phases for this drug after obtaining very encouraging results as to the product’s efficacy, bioavailability and mechanism of action,” explained CEO Albert G. Zamora. The preliminary results will be presented this April in New Orleans at the meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.
This new step forward for the company, which spun off from the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (Hospital Clínic-UB-CSIC) in October 2009, coincides with the consolidation of its organizational structure: establishing its headquarters in the Barcelona Science Park (PCB), opening a subsidiary in San Jose (Silicon Valley, United States) and creating a Board of Administration and a new advisory board. The advisory board includes noteworthy figures like American Larry Steiman, professor at Stanford and discoverer of natalizumab (one of the five multiple sclerosis drugs on the market), and Catalan Joaquim Trias, economist and businessman who has previously participated in similar projects in the USA.
Little over a year ago, Bionure received a €2-millions injection of public and private capital. At this time, investors included Digna Biotech, Prous Institute for Biomedical Research, Galenicun, Pharmaphénix, Meeting Farma and representatives of the Roig Jofré, Uriach and Monràs families, among others.
With the Catalan delegation to BIO Boston 2012
Bionure is one of the 67 companies and research organizations that are travelling with the Catalan delegation, coordinated by Biocat, to the BIO Boston 2012 convention, from 18 to 21 June.