Dr. Jan-Eric Ahlfors pushes forward with Regeneration Matrix

[GRAMMY]

The Biotech City is home to promising biotechnology
companies with innovative technology platform
A native of Finland, Jan-Eric Ahlfors studied at Worcester
Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, where he earned MBA
and PhD degrees— in such diverse areas as physics, biotechnology
and biomedical engineering, regenerative medicine and
technology management. In 2003, Dr. Ahlfors founded one
of the most prominent biotech companies in the field of regenerative
medicine in Massachusetts. His innovative research in the
field led to his being asked to help draft that state’s bill on stem
cell research, which became law in 2005. What’s more, in 2004,
the President Bush personally presented him with a “Businessman
of the Year” award.
With such a promising future in the United States, why would
Dr. Ahlfors choose to locate his company is Laval's Biotech City?
It all began with a discussion with Investissement Québec in
the summer of 2006. “I was informed that Canadian universities
were conducting a great deal of research into personalized and
regenerative medicine. They wanted to bring someone in to start
such a company in Quebec. They let me know all the advantages
that Quebec and the Biotech City offered a company like
New World Laboratories, so I decided to set up the company in
Laval in the summer of 2007.” According to Dr. Ahlfors, the main
advantages are, first and foremost, having access to a worldwide
talent pool; second, lower R&D costs, due to government
support; and third, the Biotech City offers direct access to
suppliers, support organizations and other services.
As for New World Laboratories immediate future, the 12-
employee company is in the process of securing financing and
adequate patent protection. Moreover, a number of its products
and technologies are currently being tested and validated by
Canada’s National Research Council (NRC). Last year New World
Laboratories received one of the NRC’s largest ever Industrial
Research Assistance Program grants in order to further the
development of its technologies.
_________
For further information about New World Laboratories,
please contact Dr. Jan-Eric Ahlfors, CEO and CSO,
at 450 781-2155, ext. 2100, or visit the company’s Web site:
www.nwl.net.
Earlier this year, Dr. Jan-Eric Ahlfors, founder of New World
Laboratories Inc., attended the Stem Cells USA & Regenerative
Medicine Congress in Philadelphia, where representatives from
pharmaceutical companies announced their plans to devote
more than 40% of their research and development (R&D) budget
to regenerative medicine. This decision was spurred by the
costs associated with degenerative disease—nearly $2 trillion
worldwide—a figure that will only increase given the aging
population. However, according to Dr. Ahlfors, the pharmaceutical
companies do not know how to approach the field, giving a
distinct advantage to New World Laboratories—one of the few
biotech companies with extensive experience in developing its
own technology platforms for regenerative medicine—making it
likely to capture a significant share of that huge market.
Unlike most small biotech companies, which develop and market
innovation and resulting from universities and research institutions,
New World Laboratories acts as its own research centre,
allowing it to create its own therapeutic platforms. The company
focuses its efforts on three main sectors—therapeutic drugs,
medical devices, and cell therapies.
For example, the apoptosis program (programmed cell death) at
New World Laboratories has led to the development of a drug
that not only prevents the cell or tissue loss resulting from
neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and
Parkinson’s disease, brain and spinal cord injuries, stroke and
diabetes, etc., but also has indirect regenerative effects on

tissues. The Regeneration Matrix (RM

x

TM

) device from New World

Laboratories speeds the regeneration of central nervous system
cells and soft tissues while inhibiting tumour growth.
The company has also developed a technology for producing
neural stem cells from a patient’s own skin or blood cells, thus
eliminating the possibility of immune rejection and opening the
door to affordable, personalized treatments. “We still have to
conduct our first clinical trials,” states Dr. Ahlfors, “but as of
right now, we can create such cells for less than $1,000, a real
boon in this field of medicine.”
“The strength of our therapeutic platforms,” continues Dr. Ahlfors,
“is that they can stimulate regeneration as well as slow down or
prevent tissue degeneration. Other companies work on curbing
or improving the symptoms of degenerative disease; New World
Laboratories is working on rebuilding and protecting damaged

tissue.”

http://www.citebiotech.com/cms/files...EN_FINAL_5.pdf

[Stormycoon]

thnxs 4 posting i always continue checking 4 updates with him have been wondering where the world he has been he wont reply to any inquireys from me

[Schmeky]

Ahlfors name has popped up from time to time for around 8 years. Years ago he made comments on his research for SCI being cutting edge.

Seems the more things change, the more they remain the same.

[GRAMMY]

Yep, he was fighting lack of funding at the same time Dr. Young was. There wasn't any money getting put together for clinical trials. Dr. Ahlfors took offers to set up his lab and research in Canada around the time that Dr. Young headed to China. He did get some money from European sources. Lack of funding in the US had lots of researchers scrambling and wondering what other country to turn to. It sounds like he's made progress, but I don't know when or if the clinical trials are starting. At least they now have the neural stem cell piece in place now and I don't think $1,000. to personalize one's cells is a bad cost either. I'm still hoping they are successful with the Regeneration Matrix and the validation from the Canadian Research Council goes smoothly. I'm glad he received one of the largest grants ever offered by the NRC. I know he had applied for a patent, but I'm not sure if it was granted yet. I do know it's trademarked. I'll see if I can get some more in depth information on the situation.

[Stormycoon]

thatd b great grammy. i remember that news blast back in 06 when he did announce trials under the company Total Record for Regen matrix. i was so jazzed he was telling me all sorts of stuff in personal emails which i was sharing with the CC Community then threated me with legal action if it wasnt removed. he said he had a couple states building Manufacturing plants and nobody could believe their ears of what was supposedly taking place. its somewhat funny but sukks that i dont think he factored in the FDA part cause everything obviously was put on hold. i hate the government

[GRAMMY]

It's in the hands of the Canadian Research Council right now. Let's hope for the best in their findings!

[Wise Young]

I have met and talked to Jan-Eric Ahlfors. He is not only real and committed to curing spinal cord injury, I think that he will be a critically important player in the field. He is struggling like all of us but I hope that he will succeed. Wise.

[GRAMMY]

Information about New World Lab - Regeneration Matrix

http://www.nwl.net/

http://www.onemedplace.com/database/list/cid/13990/

RMx: a biomaterial (Device) with potent regenerative and wound healing properties that is able to present some drugs and growth factors at higher potency (growth factor presentation). Potent anti-scarring, wound healing, and tissue regeneration properties, including muscle and neuronal tissue regeneration.

Competitors / Substitutes / AlternativesNWL-053: Merck M867 - pre-clinical phase peptidomimetic drug; suffers from toxicity problems.

NWL-NSC: NeuralStem Inc., ReNeuron, and StemCell Inc. - all use fetal neural stem cells that suffer from low potency, ethical and immunogenicity problems.

RMx: closest competitor is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) which has a significantly lower potency and regenerative ability than RMx in side-by-side studies.

StatusNWL is at the pre-clinical stage. ~$20M has been invested (equity & grants) into developing a dominant IP position. NWL-053 and NWL-NSC could complete Phase I/IIa Clinical Trials within 2 years after financing, after which either an IPO or an out-licensing deal could be consummated. RMx (a Device) could complete Pivotal Clinical Trials and receive Market Approval within 3 years.

Canadian Research Council:

http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/disclo...eport&id=13683

[GRAMMY]

I have met and talked to Jan-Eric Ahlfors. He is not only real and committed to curing spinal cord injury, I think that he will be a critically important player in the field. He is struggling like all of us but I hope that he will succeed. Wise.

Wise,Would Jan-Eric Ahlfors New World Lab be able to utilize the clinical trial network for Regeneration Matrix? Is this the type of therapy that could indeed use the network to save time and money? I know you were looking at various biomaterials last summer. Do you think any of them will be in the line up for clinical trial?

[paolocipolla]

I have met and talked to Jan-Eric Ahlfors. He is not only real and committed to curing spinal cord injury, I think that he will be a critically important player in the field. He is struggling like all of us but I hope that he will succeed. Wise.

Thanks for sharing that Wise. I am thinking that you and Jan-Eric Ahlfors could ask Rich Hansen to redirect a few millions $ to support your SCI research.
The canadian members of CC could say good words to Rich so that he should consider the idea seriously.

Is there any CC member from Canada in contact with Rich Hansen willing to do that?