Publications by scientific co-founder

CombiGene’s scientific co-founder David Woldbye has been active lately, with one poster at the Lundbeck Brain Prize meeting and one review paper in the scientific journal Neuropeptides.

At the prestigious Lundbeck Brain Prize meeting Nov 2-4 at Hindsgavl Castle on Funen (Denmark), David Woldbye and his research team presented results from their study of gene therapeutic overexpression of NPY/Y2 in the brain of healthy Beagle dogs. The study took place in 2014, and paved the way for the recently started study where companion dogs suffering from epilepsy are now being recruited at Danish veterinary clinics for treatment with this innovative gene therapy approach.

The Brain Prize this year was awarded to Winfried Denk, Arthur Konnerth, Karel Svoboda and David W. Tank, for the refinement and use of advanced microscopy for imaging activity in individual nerve cells.

David Woldbye was also in the limelight a few weeks earlier, when his latest article was published in the journal Neuropeptides. Co-authored by Casper René Götzsche (the current Combigene CSO), the article reviewed the role of NPY in learning and memory. It is probably the most thorough review published on this topic for more than 10 years, spanning over more than 100 references and clearly filling a gap in the current NPY literature. The review can be found at www.neuropeptidesjournal.com/article/S0143-4179(15)00099-2/abstract and will be available in the printed journal by the beginning of next year.

“Memory impairment is a well-known side effect of several types of today’s epilepsy medications, but also occurs after epileptic seizures which, needless to say, are more common if prescribed medications are not taken”, explains David Woldbye. “NPY, too, can have effects on memory, as clearly shown in our review. It may enhance memory or impair memory, depending on the situation and the kind of memory function studied. The receptor involvement also matters. For example, one of the studies referred to in the review shows that removal of the Y2 receptor may result in marked memory deficits.”

CombiGene’s CEO Bengt Westrin adds: “In most kinds of CNS-related gene therapy, the potential effects on memory and other cognitive functions are central when designing the toxicology and safety program. We’ve known that for a long time. Having experts such as David and Casper on the team is the best possible starting point for doing it right.”

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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