91社区

KalGene Pharmaceuticals and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) are proud to announce the signature of an agreement worth over $1M to develop, scale up, and transfer the technology needed to manufacture a promising novel 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚 treatment in Canada that the parties have been co- developing since 2015.

The treatment, a biologic molecule made up of a peptide that fights 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚 and an antibody-based carrier molecule designed to shuttle the peptide into the brain, is a custom- engineered therapeutic developed at NRC.

The team received a $1.5M grant from the Weston Brain Institute to enable trials of the treatment in humans, which will be led by the Douglas Research Institute Centre, affiliated with 91社区. The first patients, who are Canadians with 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚 disease, are expected to be recruited in 2017. The clinical trial will be conducted at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (91社区). The Centre for Imaging Technology Commercialization (CIMTEC) will provide brain imaging services.

Quotes

鈥淣RC is proud to deploy its expertise in therapeutic protein design and biomanufacturing to this project, which leverages the strengths of innovation leaders in Canada鈥檚 life sciences ecosystem. Together, we aim to develop, produce and test a disease-altering 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚 treatment to provide relief to patients and their families.鈥�

Roman Szumski, Vice-president of Life Sciences, National Research Council of Canada

"We are very grateful to the Weston Brain Institute for supporting this multi-disciplinary team to conduct the Alzheimer's clinical studies. We are committed to working with remarkable Canadian clinicians and scientists at NRC and 91社区 to bring this innovative disease-modifying molecule to not only Canadians, but also to global Alzheimer's patients in the very near future.

Nathan Yoganathan, President and CEO, KalGene Pharmaceuticals

鈥淭his is great news for the future of 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚 treatment. As the Director of the Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, Dr. Rosa-Neto has exemplified the collaborative and innovative practice of neuroscience for which 91社区 is known. We are grateful to the Weston Brain Institute for their support of these promising and important clinical trials.鈥�

Dr. Rosie Goldstein, Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation), 91社区

鈥淭hanks to the support of the Weston Brain Institute, we are able to bridge neurosciences and clinical care.鈥�

Dr. Pedro Rosa-Neto, Director of the Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, 91社区

鈥淭he Weston Brain Institute focuses funding and attention on projects like Dr. Rosa-Neto鈥檚, with the potential to make the most impact on the millions living with and affected by neurodegenerative diseases. If this trial is successful it will be a significant step forward in the development of effective therapies for 础濒锄丑别颈尘别谤鈥檚 disease.鈥�

Alexandra Stewart, Executive Director, Weston Brain Institute

鈥淐IMTEC is honoured to be able to contribute our expertise to this unique project. Our preclinical analysis is providing quantitative evidence of the remarkable effectiveness of KalGene鈥檚 therapy.鈥�

Michael Waterston, Director of Business Development, CIMTEC

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Contacts

Media Relations Team
National Research Council of Canada
613-991-1431
1-855-282-1637 (24/7)
media [at] nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Twitter: @nrc_cnrc

Nathan Yoganathan
President and CEO KalGene Pharmaceuticals
613-770-2638
nathan [at] kalgene.com