Betagenon is an early stage biotechnology company founded in 2001. Its goal is to become one of the leading companies in the discovery and early stage development of novel, safe and effective therapies for treatment of obesity-related disorders including type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, disorders linked to hyperinsulinemia, and various forms of cancer.

The company has developed series of small molecules that directly activate AMPK and that are orally active.  Betagenon´s program for AMPK activation puts the company in an excellent position to become one of the world leading companies in this novel and rapidly evolving field.

The company was founded in September 2001 to research, develop and commercialise pharmaceutical products based upon the extensive research knowledge and expertise in type 2 diabetes built up by Dr Helena Edlund and Dr Thomas Edlund. Dr Helena Edlund is acknowledged as one of the leading experts on cell generation and on the role of beta-cell defects in the development of diabetes.

Betagenon´s research and development is based in modern laboratory facilities at Uminova Science Park in Umeå and the company has its main office in Stockholm.

The company has carefully built an efficient organisation that today employs 17 people and that encompass biology, chemistry drug design and preclinical testing.

Anna Tenstam Lundvall, BSc, Chairman, Marketing Economist. Anna has over 20 years of managerial experience in the global pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. She is co-founder and CEO of Nordicaesthetics. Before this she was Executive Vice President in ColBar LifeScience Ltd. Between 2001 and 2004 at Q-Med AB, she had the global responsibility for business unit Esthetics. She has also held different positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb within clinical research and marketing. Mrs Tenstam Lundvall has also national and international experiences from Pharmacia AB, Lederle and Cyanamid.

Helena Edlund, Ph.D., Founder, Vice President, Head of Discovery, Professor in Molecular Developmental Biology at Umeå Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Umeå. She is Visiting Professor at the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, US. Dr. H. Edlund has provided seminal information on transcription and signalling factors that control key aspects of pancreas development and beta-cell function. Dr. H. Edlund's discoveries have raised considerable international recognition and have been honored by numerous national and international awards. Presently, Dr. H. Edlund heads a research team that uses genetic approaches and classical embryological techniques to study pancreas development and beta-cell function. Dr. H.Edlund is a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences and of EMBO. She has served on the scientific advisory board of Ontogeny Inc.

Jan Sandström, M.Sc Pharm. Contributes with extensive experience from the pharmaceutical and biotech sector. His experience covers positions as Senior VP, Business Development & Licensing, Biolipox AB. Formerly VP Business Development & Patents, Astra and Director, Global Licensing at AstraZeneca., Member of the Boards of Swedish Shareholder Association and SARF Service AB.

Thomas Edlund, Ph.D., Founder, Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer,   Professor in Molecular Genetics, University of Umeå. He was a co-founder of the biotech companies Symbicom AB and UmanGenomics AB and he has served on the scientific advisory board of Ontogeny Inc. He has extensive experience of scientific strategy in biotech companies, in fundraising, and other business activities.  He is an international renowned scientist in the study of the mechanism of development of the central nervous system and the mammalian pancreas and of the regulation of insulin gene expression. He is a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences and of EMBO.

Gunnar Skogman, Ph.D., He has a wide international Pharmaceutical experience from his previous position as Director for Strategic Planning and Business Development within In-licensing and Collaborations at the Cardiovascular and Gastrointestinal unit of AstraZeneca. He has also a strong background in the biotech sector from his previous positions at Symbicom AB as the CEO and prior to this Head of Research.

Klas Dahlberg, Economist, is the CEO of Balticgruppen Fastighet AB, a real estate company in Umeå, Sweden. He has also the operational responsibility for many of its subsidiaries. He is a board member of Balticgruppen AB and of the majority of its subsidiaries.

Olof Karlsson, MD, PhD, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, has served as the CEO since founding in 2001. Prior to joining Betagenon Dr Karlsson worked at Novartis. In the field of diabetes he was working in the international clinical team on the insulin secretagogue, nateglinide. He also participated in the business development, marketing and sales of nateglinide. He has also worked on other diabetes projects such as dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors. He received his PhD in molecular biology at the University of Umeå where he studied cell-specific insulin gene transcription and has a postgraduate training at University of California San Francisco.

Thomas Edlund, PhD, Founder, Vice President, Head of Research,  See CV Board of Directors.

Helena Edlund, PhD, Founder, Vice President, Head of Discovery, See CV Board of Directors.

Björn Eriksson, PhD, Director Discovery Projects, graduated in immunology at Umeå University in 1999. In 1989-92 he served in the company Symbicom AB. At the laboratory of Symbicom he administered several development projects. He received postgraduate training in molecular and cell biology at the Umeå University where he has developed profound expertise in gene cloning strategies and bioinformatics especially on cell-specific G-protein coupled receptors.

Ulf Dahl, PhD, Director Development Projects, graduated in microbiology from Umeå University in 1999. He has a profound experience in cell function, stem cell and development biology. In 2000-2002 he held important functions in the Stem cell work between the Institute of Laboratory Medicine at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Cell Therapeutics AB. In 2002-2004 he held a Postdoctoral Associate position at the Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami USA. In Miami he gained additional cutting edge experience in the work of understanding Stem cell biology with a focus on insulin producing cells.

Betagenon is financed by private investors, the foundation Stiftelsen J.C. Kempes Minne, www.kempe.com,  and Balticgruppen AB,  www.balticgruppen.se.