Expertise and current research performed: NSGENE develops cell and gene based therapeutic products for neurological disorders. The company employs 25 people with various skill sets including scientists and laboratory technicians with experitise in bioinformatics (software analyses), molecular biology, cell biology, in vivo biology, tissue engineering, and viral vectors. In addition, the company has administrative support for financial, legal, and patent issues. Discovery programs aim at finding novel protein factors through bioinformatics and molecular biology with therapeutic relevance for neurological disorders. For the delivery of protein factors to the central nervous system, the company has developed an encapsulated cell biodelivery technology that allows for the delivery of potent therapeutic biologics behind the blood-brain-barrier and in specific anatomical locations. The company is exploring regional biodelivery of various biological factors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, focal epilepsy and potentially other neurological disorders with unmet medical needs. One of the company’s proprietary protein factors, Neublastin, is in development as an injectable protein therapeutic for neuropathic pain in a collaboration and license agreement with Biogen Idec, Inc.

Facilities/Equipment: The company has a modern R&D facility fully equipped for activities in molecular biology, cell culture, histology, and tissue engineering. In addition, a P2 facility is available for viral vector work as well as a clean room for device manufacture. The company shares an animal facility with Neurosearch about 1 km away.

Personnel involved in the project

Principal investigator: Lars U. Wahlberg, (M) MD PhD. Executive Vice President and COO of NSGENE. Bachelor of Science in biophysics from University of Houston in 1980, M. D. in 1985 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas, USA Trained in neurosurgery, neuroscience, and biomaterials at Brown University, USA and the Karolinska Institute, Sweden leading to his specialty boards in neurosurgery and his Ph.D. in “Implantable bioartificial hybrids”. He is co-founder and COO of NSGENE and is coordinating the R&D projects and directs the restorative biology R&D.

Philip Kusk (M). PhD. Vice Director of Restorative Biology. PhD in molecular biology. Post-doc at NIH, USA. Heads up core functions in the Department of Restorative biology. Oversees gene expression, viral vector construction, and encapsulated cell biodelivery device building. Lone Fjord Larsen, PhD (F). Head of In vivo biology. Heads up animal work and implantation and analyses of encapsulated devices. Oversees also analysis of functional activity both in vitro and in vivo. Sanne Tine Asnćs (F). Laboratory technician in molecular biology with several years experience. Works on gene expression

Recent relevant publications/patents

1.        Fjord-Larsen L., Johansen J.L., Kusk P., Tornoe J., Gronborg M., Rosenblad C. & Wahlberg L.U. (2005) Efficient in vivo protection of nigral dopaminergic neurons by lentiviral gene transfer of a modified Neurturin construct. Exp. Neurol. 195, 49-60.

2.        Ahn Y.H., Bensadoun J.C., Aebischer P., Zurn A.D., Seiger A., Bjorklund A., Lindvall O., Wahlberg L., Brundin P. & Kaminski Schierle G.S. (2005) Increased fiber outgrowth from xeno-transplanted human embryonic dopaminergic neurons with co-implants of polymer-encapsulated genetically modified cells releasing glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. Brain Res. Bull. 66, 135-142.

3.        Carpenter M.K., Cui X., Hu Z.Y., Jackson J., Sherman S., Seiger A. & Wahlberg L.U. (1999) In vitro expansion of a multipotent population of human neural progenitor cells. Exp. Neurol. 158, 265-278.

4.        Aebischer, P; Wahlberg, L. Cell culture-containing tubular capsule produced by co-extrusion, United States Patent 5283187

5.        Wahlberg, L. et al Secretion of neublastin, United States Application 20050089960

6.        Wahlberg, L. et al Cultures of GFAP+ nestin+ cells that differentiate to neurons, United States Patent 6878543