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Four firms join forces to develop a new drug for the treatment of the second most frequent senile dementia after Alzheimer’s disease

By 23 de February de 2005November 18th, 2020No Comments
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 23.02.2005

Four firms join forces to develop a new drug for the treatment of the second most frequent senile dementia after Alzheimer’s disease

The biotech enterprises Oryzon genomics, Advanced In Vitro Cell Technologies ( Advancell) and Crystax Pharmaceuticals, all located at the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB, Barcelona Science Park), together with the pharmaceutical firm Esteve, and in collaboration with Brain Bank at the Universitat de Barcelona (UB, University of Barcelona), have set up an innovative Platform to develop a drug for the treatment of the second most frequent senile dementia after Alzheimer's, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).


The project was presented today during a visit around the PCB facilities by the Minister of Employment and Industry, Josep Maria Rañé, who was accompanied by the UB rector, Joan Tugores, the PCB director, Màrius Rubiralta, and the directors of the four companies involved in the initiative: Carlos Buesa from Oryzon Genomics, Lluís Ruiz from Advancell, Class Junghans from CrystaX and Antoni Esteve from Esteve, among other authorities.

Entitled Neurocure, the project has arisen from the identification, by Oryzon genomics, for the first time, of a protein involved in the development of DLB, which in the drug world is known as the pharmacological target. In spite of the social and health problem posed by this disease, its molecular bases had not been established to date, which hindered the development of efficient therapies in this field.

The association of these companies has arisen thanks to financing from the first programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Regional Government), through the Dept. of Industry and Energy, devoted to the promotion of this type of collaboration. This programme seeks to boost more focused I+D activity that addresses social needs and involves local enterprises. The application for funding has been made through the Centre for Innovation and Business development (CIDEM). Furthermore, the project start-up has been possible thanks to the emergence of new technology-based enterprises (spin-off) that specialize in various stages of drug development. In this case, the firms and consolidated enterprises are located at the PCB, which has acted as a catalyst.

“Through this kind of cooperative approach, Catalan biotech companies, which have difficulty in undertaking innovative projects because of their small size, can participate in international projects. These enterprises also consolidate their relationships with the Catalan pharmaceutical industry, a key point for the development of the Biorregión”, stated Carlos Buesa, director of Oryzon genomics. .