OxyPharma Contributes to Swedish Research Program

OxyPharma contributes to a newly launched Swedish research program called COMBINE (controlling chronic inflammatory diseases with combine efforts). The overall aim of the program is to create a network of scientists, clinicians, patients and industrial representatives, which together can use unique Swedish advantages to improve understanding of why inflammatory diseases develop, what are the most essential goals for patients to achieve, and to develop and implement novel prevention and therapy for these diseases. The consortium consists of clinicians/scientists, biomedical scientists, epidemiologists, care scientists, bioethics, members of patient organisation and representatives from industry.

OxyPharma is one of the industrial contributors to COMBINE, and will as such have access to the consortium’s infrastructure and competences. As a drug development company, OxyPharma has a need of competence, experimental systems (from humans and animals) and logistics which can be utilized within COMBINE.

COMBINE is coordinated by Lars Klareskog at the Karolinska Institute at University Hospital in Stockholm. Lars Klareskog is Professor in Rheumatology, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine. He is also involved with OxyPharma as an associated adviser, conducting mechanism of action research on OxyPharma's compounds. Mr. Klareskog is Principal Investigator for the ongoing clinical phase II study of Rabeximod.

COMBINE is founded by six Swedish organizations - Invest in Sweden Agency (ISA), KK-stiftelsen (the Knowledge foundation), Reumatikerförbundet (The Swedish Rheumatism Association), Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forskning (the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF), VINNOVA (The Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems) and Vårdalstiftelsen (the Vårdal Foundation). The six organizations have decided to fund COMBINE to the tune of SEK 60m (approx, USD 9.5m) for the next five years.

For additional information please contact:
Ulf Björklund
CEO, OxyPharma AB
Phone: +46 8 726 17 02 or +46 70 667 04 40
Email: ulf.bjorklund@oxypharma.com
or
Peter Karaszi
Press Officer, OxyPharma AB
Phone: +27 21 439 8806 or +27 83 243 5797
Email: peter.karaszi@oxypharma.com

Also see our web site: www.oxypharma.com OxyPharma is a member of SwedenBIO. For more information about Swedish biotech, please visit www.swedenbio.com