Professor Robert Naylor (Interim CEO, Director, BPharm, MRPharmS, FRPharmS, PhD, DSc) who is a world-renowned and highly cited expert in pharmacology (ISI Author Publication Number: A0949-2003-R) with over 38 years of experience. He has made outstanding original contributions in antipsychotics, the discovery of the role of brain dopamine function and anti-Parkinson medication, agents in the control of movement disorders and discovery of the antiemetic potential of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (ondansetron).

He also worked extensively on the use of NK1 receptor antagonists and dexamethasone for nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. In addition he is a qualified pharmacist with extensive knowledge on drug testing and use in clinical setting (http://www.radcliffe-oxford.com/books/bookdetail.aspx?ISBN=1857759567)

Dr Samuel Asculai (Senior Advisor, BSc, MSc., PhD)Dr Asculai is a senior executive with over 30 years of cross-functional experience in the pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries. He has held positions that have included executive and research roles. His experience combines senior level involvement with large multi-national corporations as well as with a number of successful start-ups. He is an inventor/coinventor on over 50 issued US patents and the cumulative revenue of products that he has invented and/or developed is over $2 billion. He has raised over $150 million in financing and has run public as well as private companies in North America, Europe and Australia. Sam has managed diverse teams of professionals including Ph.D.s, M.D.s, C.P.A.s and M.B.A.s. Sam earned a Masters and Doctorate in Microbiology at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, was a Visiting Professor in the department of Experimental Pathology at St. Bartholomew’s College of Medicine and Dentistry in London and the department of Pathology and department of Orthopaedics at the University of Western Australia. He is Chairman of the Scientific Board of OrthoCell an Australian Regenerative Medicine Company and Chief Scientific Officer of Enhance Skin Products, a publically-traded US company specializing in hyaluronan-based skin-care products.

Dr. Rehab AlJamal-Naylor (Founder, Chief Scientific Officer-BSc, PhD) was a principal investigator and a senior research fellow at Edinburgh University’s Medical School. She has a long standing interest in tissue remodelling and repair.

She was trained as a pharmacologist in Bradford University and SmithKline Beechams Cardiopulmonary Product Support Group. She then went on to receive further training and a PhD on matrix remodelling and respiratory function in McGill University’s Meakins Christie Laboratories. She is the principal inventor on the research detailing the use of beta1 integrin in tissue repair and replicative senescence

Dr John Blenkinsopp (Chief Medical Officer, BPharm, MB ChB) studied Pharmacy at Bradford University and Medicine at Birmingham University. He has postgraduate qualifications in both management and Pharmaceutical Medicine. John has worked in all phases of drug development. He was a Clinical Research Physician at Hazleton Medical Research Unit (now Covance), Leeds, UK, a Phase 1 clinical research unit with 50 beds and over 40 studies completed each year. He has also worked for AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Schering Plough.

Professor David Harrison (Founder-BSc, MD, FRCPath, FRCPE, FRCSEd) is the John Reid Professor of Pathology at the University of St Andrews and Clinical Director for Laboratory Medicine in NHS Lothian. He holds an honorary chair at The University of Edinburgh and was Head of Pathology, Clinical Lead of the Edinburgh Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre and Director of the Edinburgh Breakthrough Research Unit at The University of Edinburgh until 2012.

He is a member of the Committee on Toxicity, HPA and Food Standards Agency, and Chair of Medical Research Scotland, a research grant giving charity. Formerly, he was vice chair of the UK Gene Therapy Advisory Committee and he coordinated a number of agencies to develop the regulatory route map for stem cell use in the clinic.

Dr. Nigel Barnes (BSc, PhD). Nigel has over 25 years experience of working in the City having been a director of Pharmaceutical research at ABN AMRO, First Vice President of Merrill Lynch European Healthcare Equity Research, a partner at Sudbrook Associates, a healthcare corporate advisory business, and a partner at WG Partners. He has a PhD in pharmacology and has worked in the research laboratories of ICI (AstraZeneca) and Glaxo. In addition, he gained Sales and Marketing experience at Glaxo. Nigel has played an active role in a number of the leading corporate transactions, including a number of the major European sector mergers, IPO’s and capital raises.

Company Contact:

Email: info@avipero.co.uk

Tel. +44(0)7919 621 733

Company Secretary:

MBM Commercial LLP

Company Accountant:

David Akester (FCA, BSc) is the principal accountant for Avipero. He is a director of Bradford chartered accountantsAuker Rhodes Accounting Ltd and Auker Rhodes Ltd. He has over 25 years experience in advising SME clients on investment and taxation strategy and has dealt with funding applications for many businesses in this sector.

Patent Attorney:

Murgitroyd & Company

Scotland House

165-169 Scotland Street

Glasgow

G5 8PL

United Kingdom

Modulation of beta1 integrin has prevented cell death associated with injury in primary human lung cells.  AVIPERO’s research has also demonstrated efficacy of beta1 integrin modulation in inducing structural and functional repair and reversal of injury in animal models of severe emphysema.  Our findings have been recently published in Advances in Pharmacological Sciences (http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aps/aip/768720/)

Beta1 integrin modulation in Neurodegeneration

Modulation of beta1 integrin has prevented cell death induced by beta amyloid fibrils in primary human neurons.

AVIPERO’s research has also demonstrated efficacy of beta1 integrin modulation in inducing structural and motor functional repair and reversal of injury in animal models of Parkinson’s Disease.

Beta1 integrin modulation in Arthritis

Modulation of beta1 integrin has prevented cell death associated with injury in primary human chondrocytes (cartilage-derived cells).

AVIPERO’s research has also demonstrated efficacy of beta1 integrin modulation in inducing structural and functional repair and reversal of injury in animal models of arthritis.

Beta1 integrin modulation in cellular senescence (ageing)

AVIPERO’s research has also demonstrated efficacy of modulation of beta1 integrin in preventing not only cell death but also loss of proliferation associated with ageing AND injury.

We are uniquely positioned in the area of integrin therapeutics as we have proprietary background and exclusive access to the lead and its know-how for use in all therapeutic indications. Our intellectual property covers use of the target for tissue repair based on proof-of-concept efficacy data in lung emphysema, arthritis and in vitro amyloid beta-injury in addition to Parkinson’s disease models. AVIPERO is currently seeking finance for the process of humanization of the therapeutic antibody and detailed optimisation leading to filing for a micro-dosing clinical trial in 2 years.

Our current IP portfolio includes the following:

1. Application filed October, 2003 proceeded to PCT (WO2005037313) and national filing on April, 2006 in US, Europe, and Japan. This application protects the use of beta1 integrin in inducing tissue repair in general on basis of exemplification data in emphysema, arthritis, in vitro beta amyloid injury and Parkinson’s disease. http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2005037313
2. Application filed February, 2007 proceeded to PCT with 2 divisional applications in UK and US (WO2008104808) and national filing in August 2009 covering the pharmacological and biological mechanism of action, efficacy in arthritis and neurodegeneration and assay methods. http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2008104808. Application granted in UK.
3. Application filed September, 2011 covering the use of beta1 integrin in ageing.

The University of Manitoba has granted AVIPERO an exclusive license for all therapeutic uses of the selected hybridoma.

All IPs have been assigned to Rehab AlJamal-Naylor and Robert John Naylor.

Competing IP

• Beta1 integrin activation as a marker for asthma (USUS2008274482 and US2009061463)- Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.
• Activator for beta1 integrin (JP2008067616)- University of Science Tokyo.
• Peptides with beta1 Integrin Subunit Dependent Cell Adhesion Modulating Activity (WO9937669)- University of Minnesota.
• Methods of Inhibiting Amyloid Toxicity (US2003109435)- Elan Pharmaceuticals.
• Restoration of normal phenotype in cancer cells (US5846536)- The Regents of the University of California.
• Evaluation Methos and Method for Screening Skin Aging Improving Agent and Skin Aging Preventive (JP2010115131)- Kao Corp.

Wednesday, 13 July 2016

AVIPERO Issued Key US patent on the Utility of Beta1 Integrin.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND-Wed, 13 July, 2016—–AVIPERO (Registered in Scotland SC353945) announced today that it has been issued the US patent from the USPTO titled “Tissue Repair by Modulation of Beta-1 Integrin Biological Function” claiming use of beta1 integrin for tissue repair. The patent was granted on the above mentioned application on 5 July 2016 having the patent no. 9,382,322. The patent will remain in force until 2025.

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

AVIPERO and United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases Announce Positive results of Collaboration

AVIPERO (Registered in Scotland SC353945) announced today the first successful results from the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) on anti-infectives.

Under the collaboration, USAMRIID and Avipero jointly established a research program focused on emerging viral infections. The results showed positive anti-viral activity of a novel therapeutic strategy against Ebola by targeting host mechanisms utilised by the Ebola virus. The strategy entailed a combination of an antibody against the cell adhesion receptor, beta1 integrin, and a derivative of the marketed cholesterol-lowering drug ezetimibe. The treatment combination demonstrated synergistic mode of action reducing viremia by 80% in cell culture models. The treatment showed no toxicity.

Monday, 19 May 2014

Fusion Antibodies to Humanize Avipero’s integrin antibody platform.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND- Monday, 19^th May, 2014—– Fusion Antibodies Ltd has today announced a collaboration with the regenerative medicine company Avipero Ltd for humanization of their integrin antibody platform. The antibody engineering and humanization program partnered with Fusion Antibodies relates to the humanization of beta integrin targeting antibodies under development by Avipero for tissue repair and viral infections.

Monday, 14 April 2014

AVIPERO Appoints Dr. Samuel Asculai as Senior Advisor

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND- Monday, 14^th April, 2014—–The board of AVIPERO (Registered in Scotland SC353945) announced today the appointment of Dr. Samuel Asculai as a Senior Advisor. Dr Asculai is a senior executive with over 30 years of cross-functional experience in the pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries.

Friday, 17 January 2014

AVIPERO Receives Notice of Allowance for Key Patent from the U.S. Patent Office

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND-Friday, 17 January, 2014—–The board of AVIPERO (Registered in Scotland SC353945) announced today announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent Office for its “COMPOUNDS AND METHODS FOR THE MODULATION OF BETA-1 INTEGRIN FUNCTION TO MEDIATE TISSUE REPAIR ” (serial number 12/528,749) patent application.

Monday, 6 January 2014

AVIPERO and Public Health England Announce R&D Collaboration Agreement In Anti-infectives.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND-Mon, 6 January, 2014—–The board of AVIPERO (Registered in Scotland SC353945) announced today the formation of joint research and development (R&D) collaboration with Public Health England (PHE) in anti-infectives. The collaboration is effective immediately.

Friday, 18 October, 2013
John Blenkinsopp appointed as Chief Medical Officer of AVIPERO
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND-Fri, 18 October, 2013—–The board of AVIPERO (Registered in Scotland SC353945) announced today Dr. John Blenkinsopp has been appointed as Chief Medical Officer. John studied Pharmacy at Bradford University and Medicine at Birmingham University. He has postgraduate qualifications in both management and Pharmaceutical Medicine. John has worked in all phases of drug development. He was a Clinical Research Physician at Hazleton Medical Research Unit (now Covance), Leeds, UK, a Phase 1 clinical research unit with 50 beds and over 40 studies completed each year. He has also worked for AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Schering Plough.

Tuesday, 28 May, 2013
Graham Bell appointed as CEO of AVIPERO.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND-Tue, 28 May, 2013—–The board of AVIPERO (Registered in Scotland SC353945) announced today Dr. Graham Bell has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Graham has over 25 years experience working in SME in UK, in drug development, business and corporate development roles. Dr Bell is a recognized authority in stratified medicine, having recently served as the Lead Specialist with the UK government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB), Stratified Medicine Innovation Platform. He developed the strategy for future Government investments (up to £50m of TSB investment plus partner organisation investments) and formulated a technology roadmap along with UK stakeholders.

Monday, 2 July 2012

AVIPERO Issued 2 major UK Patents on targeting Beta1 Integrin for Tissue Repair and Related Methods.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND——AVIPERO (Registered in Scotland SC353945) announced today that it has been issued a major Japanese Patent Application in addition to two patents from the U.K. Intellectual Property Office. The Japanese patent covers utility of beta1 integrin in tissue repair. The UK  patents cover claims of methods for use of beta1 integrin for tissue repair AND assay methods for identifying compounds targeting beta1 integrin for use in tissue repair. The Japanese patent No 2006-534832 have priority date of 17^th October, 2003. The UK GB2478082 and GB2460009 have priority date of 26 February, 2007 and will remain in force until 26 February 2028.

17 November 2011 AVIPERO announces JB1a reverses tissue damage and induces tissue repair in emphysema.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND——AVIPERO (Registered in Scotland SC353945) announced today the results of its first R&D therapeutic platform in non-stem cell tissue repair and regeneration. The principal candidate, JB1a, is an antibody targeting the cell surface adhesion receptor beta1 integrin.

AVIPERO Ltd (Registered in Scotland SC353945) is a privately held start-up company established in 2009. AVIPERO is uniquely positioned in the area of integrin therapeutic as we have proprietary treatment for inducing tissue repair. This treatment was discovered by Rehab AlJamal-Naylor and David Harrison in 2002. The main diseases where preclinical efficacy has been shown are Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Parkinson’s disease and arthritis.

Our Aim

Our therapeutic target is a molecule on the surface of cells known as beta1 integrin. Beta1 integrin is a molecule that facilitates adhesion or stickiness of the cell to its surrounding. As beta1 integrin binds molecules inside and outside the cell and transmits this information within the cell, it affects a range of cellular activities from metabolism to cell death and division.

To do so, when activated, integrins undergo shape changes and exposure of sites affecting its interaction both inside and outside the cell. This affects the strength of the attachment of the cell to its surrounding. There are three main possible shapes of the receptor with ranging adhesive capacity; with the lower adhesiveness being the prevailing normal state. (Detailed review on http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18708090)

Novel Strategy

AVIPERO’s treatment agent is an antibody which affects the receptor shape and adhesiveness reverting it to its normal intermediate adhesive state. When administered in animal studies before the onset of disease, the treatment agent prevented tissue damage. More importantly, the treatment has also successfully repaired tissue damage when administered after the onset of injury.

This is a new and exciting revolutionary intervention in diseases where no effective disease-modifying treatment exists. This includes Parkinson’s disease, emphysema in COPD and arthritis (see http://precedings.nature.com/documents/437/version/1 for part of the emphysema data).

The biological mechanism of its action is generic as it entails reducing the cells’ mechanical rigidity that is associated with injury and preventing their death and allowing inherent repair to commence.

Potential Uses

Our new therapeutic could revolutionalise the treatment of these indications alone or in combination with other existing treatments. At AVIPERO, we aim to take the development of the treatment to early clinical trials in humans focusing initially on Parkinson’s disease with the view to progressing with development in emphysema and arthritis under strategic alliances with suitable pharmaceutical companies.

Cell death is hallmark of many chronic diseases such as dementias in the brain, heart attacks, asthma, cancer and skin wound healing amongst many. The future applicability of AVIPERO’s treatment could extend beyond the tested indications.