CombiGene: Publication by the scientific cofounders

CombiGene’s scientific cofounders Merab Kokaia and David Woldbye are coauthors of a recent article in Neurobiology of Disease.

The title of the article is ”Translational approach for gene therapy in epilepsy: Model system and unilateral over expression of neuropeptide Y and Y2 receptors”. Kokaia and Woldbye performed this work along with other scientists from the universities in Lund and Copenhagen. As indicated by the title, the study used the same treatment concept as the one currently being developed by CombiGene, although most of the study described in the publication took place before 2015 and was not sponsored by CombiGene.

The results clearly support that treatment concept, but in particular it is worth noticing the animal model used. Rats were used as study animals and these develop temporal lobe epilepsy after brain insult in the same way as human patients, i.e. with unprovoked seizures that may occur anytime. Within drug development, an animal model having high resemblance with the situation for human patients is considered to have a ”high translation value” and if such models are used there will be less risk that effects observed in study animals cannot be reproduced in patients.

The article was published online a few days ago and can be accessed at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26607785.

For further information:
CombiGene AB (publ)
Bengt Westrin, CEO
Tel: +46 70 265 48 62
email: bengt.westrin@combigene.com

About CombiGene AB

By combining modern neuroscience with recent advances in gene delivery, CombiGene has developed a method shown to suppress epileptic seizures in preclinical studies. Our current focus is on continuing to develop this method into an effective and safe therapy for epilepsy patients, but the method may also have development potential as a means of treating other neurological disorders.

Founded on the basis of scientific discoveries made at Lund University and the University of Copenhagen, CombiGene has offices at Medicon Village in Lund, Sweden. The company is public and listed on the Swedish marketplace AktieTorget. www.combigene.com

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