| 10.04.2004 | Icogenex adds key scientific advisor to Alzheimer's program |
| 04.02.2004 | An unusual approach lets little biotech try, try again |
| 02.20.2004 | Icogen becomes Icogenex |
| 07.28.2003 | Icogen receives grant for Alzheimer's therapeutic |
| 02.06.2003 | Icogen in BioWorld Today |
| 02.05.2003 | Icogen receives million dollar grant |
| Winter 2003 | Icogen's CEO featured in Concordia Magazine |
Icogenex Corporation adds key scientific advisor to Alzheimer's Disease program
Seattle, Washington (PR Newswire)- October 4, 2004:
Icogenex Corporation announced today that Dr. George M. Martin has agreed to serve as an Icogenex scientific advisor for Icogenex Alzheimer's disease program.
Dr. George M. Martin is an active Emeritus Professor of Pathology at the University of Washington and former long time director of the University of Washington Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. His current research interests lie in the application of genetic concepts and methodologies to the elucidation of the biology of aging in both humans and a variety of other organisms.
Dr. Martin's current research focuses on three areas: 1) The genetic basis for susceptibility and resistance to Alzheimer's type dementias. 2) The nature of gene action in the pathogenesis of Werner syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disease. 3) Investigation of DNA damage associated with aging utilizing cell lines and transgenic mice exhibiting resistance to mutagenesis mediated by oxidative damage.
"We are very pleased to add this very experienced individual to the Icogenex team," states Dr. Hagen, president and CEO of Icogenex. "Access to Dr Martin's expertise in the field of Alzheimer's disease research will greatly facilitate the research and development efforts of Icogenex scientists as they work to develop an effective Alzheimer's disease therapeutic. Icogenex is a Seattle-based, privately held company working to identify and develop therapeutic compounds for the treatment of human diseases.
Honors for Dr. Martin's research include the Brookdale, Kleemeier and Paul Glenn Foundation awards of the Gerontological Society of America, the Allied-Signal Corporation Award, the Irving Wright Award of the American Federation for Aging Research, the American Aging Association Medal, and a World Alzheimer Congress Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also received an Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Washington School of Medicine. He was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and now serves as a Senior Member.
Dr. Martin was a member of the National Advisory Council and the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Institute on Aging. He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of the Buck Institute and the Ellison Medical Foundation and is Editor-in-Chief of a new AAAS/Science WEB site for research on the biology of aging (SAGE KE). Dr. Martin is a Past President of the Tissue Culture Society of America, the American Federation for Aging Research and the Gerontological Society of America.
An unusual approach lets little biotech try, try again
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Icogen Becomes Icogenex
Seattle, Washington (PR Newswire)- February 20, 2004:
Icogen Corporation, a Seattle based biotechnology company, announced today that the company is changing its name to Icogenex Corporation.
The name change reflects a refocusing and re-branding of the company. "We are now a different company from the one founded in 1995," stated Frederick S. Hagen, President & CEO. Historically, Icogen sought to utilize the strength of its core research team to clone, express, and market therapeutic proteins. Presently, Icogenex combines this longstanding expertise with new, proprietary screening methods, and focuses specifically on the development of anti-inflammatory therapeutics as well as the development of an Alzheimer's disease therapeutic.
"The name change marks the start of an exciting new, and directed focus for the company," added Dr. Hagen. "We believe the strength of our internal research and development activities, paired with strategic partnering will allow us to develop and market therapeutic products at a significantly expedited pace."
Icogenex is a Seattle-based, privately held company working to identify and develop therapeutic compounds for the treatment of human diseases.
Icogen Receives SBIR Grant for the Identification
of Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic
Seattle, Washington (PR Newswire)- July 28, 2003:
Icogen Corporation announced today that it has received an award for a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Aging (NIA) to develop an Alzheimer's disease therapeutic. The funded research uses Icogen's ISOPLeCTM technology to target and adjust the level of a key peptide responsible for the development of Alzheimer's disease. ISOPLeCTM is Icogen's proprietary technology for the identification of protein effector compounds. "This is a significant validation of our scientific approach by knowledgeable scientists reviewing the SBIR grant application," comments Frederick S. Hagen, Ph.D., Icogen's founder and CEO.
This grant will further the collaborative efforts between Icogen and BioArctic Neuroscience, of Uppsala, Sweden. The project combines Icogen's ISOPLeCTM technology with the Alzheimer's disease expertise of Prof. Lars Lannfelt of the Uppsala University Hospital, and co-founder of BioArctic Neuroscience.
With more than 10 years of research experience in the field of dementia, Dr. Lannfelt and his laboratory have made key discoveries in the Alzheimer's field with the identification of two human mutations that affect the level of amyloid peptide in the brain. All individuals inheriting these mutations develop early onset Alzheimer's disease, providing strong evidence for the importance of the amyloid peptide to the development of the disease. "We are enthusiastic and excited about this collaboration to develop an Alzheimer's disease therapeutic," states Prof. Lannfelt.
There is a significant and growing need for Alzheimer's disease therapeutics. The disease affects 5 % of people at 65 years of age, 20 % at age 80, and 50 % at age 85. Alzheimer's disease is a large burden to society costing the American public $100 billion in 2002 with this cost expected to escalate with the general aging of the American population. "The business and humanitarian elements of this endeavor are very compelling," proclaims Dr. Gellerfors, CEO and cofounder of BioArctic Neuroscience.
Icogen is a Seattle-based, privately held company identifying and developing commercial proteins and protein effectors as the basis of new treatments for human diseases. To date, Icogen has received $6.1 million in NIH grant funding.
BioArctic Neuroscience is a newly founded biotech company located in Uppsala Science Park, Sweden. The company intends to develop safe and efficacious treatments for Alzheimer's disease by exploring proprietary, unique, disease-specific drug targets.
Icogen Receives Million Dollar Grant
to Identify Inhibitors of Chemokine Receptors
Seattle, Washington (PR Newswire)- February 5, 2003:
Icogen Corporation announced today that it has received notice of award for a $1 Million Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). The grant is to fund the second phase of a project to identify inhibitors of chemokine receptors that may be developed into therapeutic treatments for inflammatory diseases. Chemokine receptors are found on immune cells. Activation of these receptors causes cells to migrate to areas of inflammation. Damping of this response may be an effective form of treatment in diseases where the response is too robust.
"The NIH scientific peer review process for evaluating SBIR grant applications is an important validation of our innovative, screening approach for the identification of peptides or natural products that inhibit chemokine receptors" states Frederick S. Hagen, Ph.D., Icogen's founder and CEO. "Our technology enables the rapid screening of large peptide libraries or natural product libraries to efficiently identify peptide(s) or natural products having potential as the basis for new treatments for inflammatory diseases. We believe that the notification of NIH funding for this project represents a significant milestone toward the development of effective therapies in inflammation." Dr. Hagen notes that as molecules are identified, partnerships with other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies may be pursued to develop and market these therapies.
Icogen is a Seattle-based, privately held company identifying and working to commercial proteins and protein effectors as the basis of new treatments for human diseases. To date, Icogen has received $5.7 million in NIH grant funding.