News
Follow us on LinkedInParkinson’s disease is on the rise. According to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of the neurodegenerative disease has doubled worldwide since the turn of the century. Is there anything we can do about it? Read more about prof. Saarma’s research and GeneCode’s mission here: https://www.freethink.com/health/the-exciting-research-that-may-cure-parkinsons
GeneCode selected among the most promising biotech companies in the European Union.
At GeneCode, we’re thrilled to share a major milestone in our research journey. With the recent €1.6M grant from Enterprise Estonia (EAS), we are set to expand our GDNF Mimetics Platform to address ALS, Retinitis Pigmentosa, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
GeneCode has been named one of the TOP 5 best biotech companies to watch in 2024 by The Silicon Review!
GeneCode research group led by Prof. Dr. Saarma is investigating the structure, biology, and therapeutic potential of neurotrophic factors. We specifically study the GDNF family neurotrophic factors and their receptors. Prof. Dr. Saarma’s exclusive interview is available here: https://thesiliconreview.com/magazine/profile/genecode-neurodegeneration-chronic-neurological-diseases
The Life Sciences Review has nominated GeneCode Ltd. among TOP10 Drug Discovery and Development Solutions Provider in Europe 2023.
GeneCode’s R&D project has received tremendous backing from Enterprise Estonia, and we are grateful for their critical support. In collaboration with them, we have taken time to reflect on our journey with them and Argobio and look ahead to the future.
https://investinestonia.com/follow-the-science-end-up-in-estonia/
European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator is providing € 16 million to support the development of a drug and treatment to slow the progression in Parkinson’s disease. The funding to GeneCode for the Kevad Bio project developed in collaboration with Argobio is split into a € 1.7 million grant and € 14.3 million in equity investments. This is the largest funding ever received by an Estonian company under EIC Accelerator.
Launch of WHO’s Parkinson disease technical brief. Globally, the prevalence of Parkinson disease (PD) has doubled in the past 25 years with global estimates in 2019 showing over 8.5 million individuals living with PD. Disability and death due to PD are increasing faster than for any other neurological disorder. Current estimates suggest that, in 2019, PD resulted in 5.8 million disability-adjusted life years, an increase of 81% since 2000, and caused 329,000 deaths, an increase of over 100% since 2000.
https://www.who.int/news/item/14-06-2022-launch-of-who-s-parkinson-disease-technical-brief
Excellent start to the year 2022. GeneCode to Accelerate GDNF Mimetics program on Parkinson’s Disease with 2 million euro R&D Grant from Enterprise Estonia: PR_Genecode_EAS_EN_13.01.2022
We are very honored to share the news of the GeneCode and Argobio Partners on Parkinson’s Disease in Argobio’s First Announced Research Agreement. Read more: https://www.argobiostudio.com/en/news/argobio-and-genecode-partner-on-parkinsons-disease-in-argobios-first-announced-research-agreement#news
GeneCode ordered a Freedom to Operate search on a group of chemical compounds from international patent and trademark attorneys. (Project period: 07.04.2021-08.08.2021). According to the final analysis, the patents were discovered alive and are not relevant concerning GeneCode’s freedom to operate. The project was partly financed by the European Regional Development Fund with 1760 euros.
Current Parkinson’s Disease treatments only relieve symptoms without halting the progression of the disease, and their use is complicated by severe adverse effects emerging as the disease progresses. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new therapies for PD management. We developed a small molecule compound, BT13, targeting receptor tyrosine kinase RET. Research article “GDNF Receptor Agonist Alleviates Motor Imbalance in Unilateral 6- Hydroxydopamine Model of Parkinson’s Disease“ is available https://emrespublisher.com/open-access-pdf/gdnf-receptor-agonist-alleviates-motor-imbalance-in-unilateral-6hydroxydopamine-model-of-parkinsons-disease-100004.pdf
Digital RESI Europe. GeneCode participated in the Virtual Partnering Conferences (23-25 March 2020). The goal of the partnering event was to match the fundraising CEOs and the scientist-entrepreneurs with investors and strategic partners that are a fit for their stage of development and product set. https://resiconference.com/
The new molecule shows promise for Parkinson’s treatment. Recent research in mouse models suggests that a new molecule might be able to tap into key neurochemical mechanisms and help treat Parkinson’s disease.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/new-molecule-shows-promise-for-parkinsons-treatment
The summary of our findings written in layman’s terms can be found in the press release from Parkinson’s UK. A promising molecule, called BT13, has offered hope for a new treatment that could stop or slow Parkinson’s, something no treatment can currently do.
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/bt13-molecule-offers-hope-halting-parkinsons
Our first paper describing the effects of a small molecule GDNF mimetic, a compound called BT13, in a cell-based model of Parkinson’s and in vivo was published last week in the Journal of Movement Disorders! https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mds.27943
GeneCode was selected to present PD development at the 17th edition of the Tech Tour 2019 Nordic Venture Forum in Copenhagen, 30th- 31st October. The competition was very strong, with over 140+ applications and 500 individual company assessments. https://techtour.com/events/2019/10/event-nordic-venture-forum-2019.html?pageId=3065876
GeneCode participated in the UTILE Brokerage, Partnering and Networking Event in Trieste on the 16-18 October. The workshop offered an exciting opportunity to meet potential investors and partners, show achievements, network, engage, and enhance business prospects. https://techtour.com/events/2019/10/event-utile-brokerage-investment-and-partnering-event.html
GeneGode participated in the UTILE Partnering Summit on 11 July in London. About 1200 projects were reviewed and only a small percentage of those were scored highly in terms of potential for use of results or commercialisation and had the opportunity to participate and make a presentation https://www.eventbrite.com/e/utile-partnering-summit-london-registration-63154755574
We have recently published a peer-review article on GDNF mimetics in pain (07.07.17): Sidorova et al., 2017. A Novel Small Molecule GDNF Receptor RET Agonist, BT13, Promotes Neurite Growth from Sensory Neurons in Vitro and Attenuates Experimental Neuropathy in the Rat. Front. Pharmacol., 21 June 2017, Volume 8, Article 365, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2017.00365
We have also published a paper on a preprint server called BioRxiv (01.07.17). Bespalov et al., 2016. The novel agonist of the GDNF family ligand-receptor RET for the treatment of experimental neuropathy. BioRxiv. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/061820.
The newest Genecode scientific article about Parkinson’s (19.02.17)
The newest Genecode scientific article about Parkinson’s was published in February 2017 in the UK ADJACENT Government journal where neurodegenerative diseases were the highlighted topic. In our article Protecting and restoring dopaminergic nerve cells in Parkinson’s disease you can read more closely about how, with the protection and restoration of dopaminergic neurons by small molecule GDNF mimetics, Genecode has established the GDNF receptor as a druggable target.
Participation at 10th Annual European Life Science CEO Forum & Exhibition (04.01.17)
Genecode will be present with a tabletop exhibition at the 10th Annual European Life Science CEO Forum & Exhibition, 6-7 March 2017, Hilton Zurich Airport Hotel. Please visit us! http://www.sachsforum.com/10elsceo-about.html
Genecode will be present with a booth at BioFit 2016 from November 30th to December 1st, 2016 Lille, France.
Please visit us! http://www.biofit-event.com
Participation at the Parkinson’s UK Research Conference 2016 (20.10.16)
The Genecode team is going to attend the Parkinson’s UK Research Conference 2016. The conference will be held in Leeds, UK, from November 7th to 8th. During the conference, we will present a poster with recent data on the activity of selected compounds in the model of Parkinson’s disease. Please visit us! https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/content/research-conference-2016
We are delighted to be participating in the 16th Annual Biotech in Europe Forum. You are welcome to visit our booth to find out about our latest discoveries!
Read more here: http://www.sachsforum.com/16th-annual-biotech-in-europe-investor-forum.html
Genecode is taking part in the LIFE SCIENCES BALTICS 2016 programme in Vilnius. Come and visit us! Read about the exhibition here – http://www.lsb2016.com/
Our article “A new approach to treating Parkinson’s disease” has been published in the EU Research magazine on p.22-24. https://issuu.com/euresearcher/docs/eur10_digital_mag. In the article, Dr. Sidorova and Dr. Pilv discuss our progress in developing treatments for this disease.
Our article “RNA Interference-Guided Targeting of Hepatitis C Virus Replication with Antisense Locked Nucleic Acid-Based Oligonucleotides Containing 8-oxo-dG Modifications” was published in PLOS: One magazine. You can read the full article here – Genecode HCV publication
Publications of:
Dr. Eric Ronken
Prof. Mart Saarma
Prof. Mati Karelson