Betagenon is a 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.

Olof Karlsson, MD, PhD, Founder, Chairman of the Board, served as CEO between 2001-10. 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.

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.

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.

Thomas Edlund, PhD, Founder, Chief Executive Officer,  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.

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