Zymedyne

Zymedyne is creating a new approach to the treatment of chronic pain. Founded by Dr. Gerald Zamponi, Professor from the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine and Dr. Chris Bladen, alumnus of the Cumming School of Medicine’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute, the company holds the intellectual property on a newly discovered molecular mechanism that causes increased T-Type calcium channel expression that are crucial in pain signalling. They are developing compounds that regulate this mechanism and create a whole new class of valuable, non-opioid based, and non-addictive pain medications that will significantly improve the quality of life for chronic pain sufferers. By increasing the target specificity, they hope to lower the risk of side effects like weight gain, respiratory depression and addiction. If successful, Zymedyne would help a broad range of patients with painful conditions, such as diabetes and shingles.

Established in July 2020, the company received funding from UCeed, which founder Dr. Chris Bladen says has been critical to their early-stage development and evolution. UCeed funds provided the means for patent filings, licensing, and various testing stages. 

“Having the backing of UCeed has undoubtedly legitimized Zymedyne in the eyes of potential investors. We have leveraged UCeed’s support to attract further investment and keep our momentum going.”
Dr. Chris Bladen

Over the next year, the Zymedyne team aims to conduct structure activity relationships (SAR). The SAR will create new, novel drugs and with more in-vivo results, and the company will be able to patent, develop and license to pharmaceutical companies in the future. Once efficacy has been proven, they will carry out further studies before applying for Phase I clinical trials.

Visit Zymedyne’s website here.

Zymedyne has received investment from UCeed, a venture philanthropy fund accelerating UCalgary and community-based startup companies to advance problem-solving research, create jobs and fuel the economy. A key program in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem, UCeed bridges the gap between innovation, demonstration and commercialization, and is managed by UCalgary’s knowledge-transfer and business incubator, Innovate Calgary.

UCeed Health Fund is supported by the generosity of the River Fund at the Calgary Foundation and their mission to build a healthy and vibrant community where everyone belongs.