hemoCORM Company FactSheet

Innovative medicine:
Novel carbon monoxide-releasing molecules
with therapeutic potential
Overview
hemoCORM Ltd is a London based company
that has established a leading position in an
exciting and emerging pharmacological field.
The company is developing a novel class of
therapeutic agents: compounds that release
carbon monoxide (CO) under defined conditions.
The compounds have been developed following
the discovery that CO, like nitric oxide, is a
naturally occurring chemical messenger that, in
physiological doses, has anti-inflammatory,
hypotensive and anti-apoptotic properties and
can suppress graft rejection and protect tissues
from ischemic damage.
hemoCORM’s technology
As research into the pharmacological effects of
CO progressed through the 90’s, so its
therapeutic potential became apparent.
Management:
hemoCORM’s scientists recognised that any
Chief Executive therapeutic benefit to be derived from CO could
Dr Philip Ledger rarely be efficiently achieved by delivering the
Scientific Founders molecule as a gas, which is inconvenient and
Dr Roberto Motterlini potentially unsafe to store and administer. Their
Prof Brian Mann solution to the problem came in the identification
Prof Colin Green of several groups of inorganic molecules able to
release CO under physiological conditions.
Chairman
Development stage
Prof Colin Green
Prototype molecules have been modified to
Commercial Manager increase water-solubility and decrease toxicity,
Paul Purcell and the new forms are active in a number of
model systems.
For information: hemoCORM and its collaborators have shown
Dr Philip Ledger that CO-RMs can induce beneficial
Tel: +44 (0) 7768 217 607 pharmacological effects otherwise obtainable
p.ledger@hemocorm.com with CO (gas). Compounds are being screened
or for biological properties and optimized for CO
Paul Purcell release prior to confirmation of lead candidates.
NPIMR - TT Block Most lab work is currently performed at
Watford Road hemoCORM’s parent institutions. There is an
Harrow, Middx HA1 3UJ additional chemistry collaboration at the
United Kingdom University of Zurich and projects are outsourced
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8869 3287 to commercial providers. Over 10 international
paul.purcell@imperial.ac.uk groups are actively using CO-RMs under MTAs.
Factsheet_8 Sep 2006 © Hemocorm Ltd 2006
Therapeutic focus
CO-RMs have shown activity in numerous in vitro
and in vivo preclinical models (list of publications
available on request). hemoCORM’s current
development focus is in transplantation, and the
protection of tissues from ischaemic damage (e.g.
after myocardial infarction or angioplasty). These
represent significant, growing markets, in which
there is great demand for new active substances.
Mechanism of action
The activity of hemoCORM’s compounds is
consistent with their primary effects being caused
by the release of CO. The best characterised
receptor for CO is guanylate cyclase. Direct
activities on K-ion channels and CO-responsive
transcription factors have also been reported, and
some biological effects of CO apparently involve
the MAPK and Hif-1/hypoxia pathways.
Intellectual property
hemoCORM controls a family of patents and patent
applications covering the composition of matter of
CO-RMs and their pharmaceutical use, including
the granted US patent US7045140.
Company history
hemoCORM was spun-out from the Northwick Park
Institute for Medical Research, London, and the
University of Sheffield, based on IP developed by
scientists in those institutions. The company’s
founders are Professor Colin Green, Dr Roberto
Motterlini (both NPIMR), and Professor Brian Mann
(University of Sheffield). Professor Green, the
Director of NPIMR, has an international reputation
in transplantation surgery; Dr Motterlini is a world-
recognised expert in the biology of the heme
oxygenase/CO pathway, and Professor Mann is a
recognised expert on metal carbonyls and
organometallic chemistry.
In February 2005 and again in January 2006,
hemoCORM received investment from a private
source that has enabled it to develop new CO-
RMs, and evaluate them in a in a range of animal
models, including renal transplantation.

Highlights
 hemoCORM is the first commercial player in a novel and growing field
 We have a strong IP position and scientific foundation
Strategy and partnering opportunities
 hemoCORM is seeking to have additional funding in place by early 2007, and invites enquiries
from corporate investors and VCs .
 Technology evaluation and collaborative research with big pharma is being explored.
 Small and mid-sized partners with complementary technologies are invited to discuss
collaborations.