Torbjörn Bäckström, MD, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Umecrine AB, Head of Neurosteroid Research Centre in Umeå and Professor in the Department of Clinical Science, Obstetrics and Gynecology at Umeå University. Professor Bäckström's main area of interest is GABA receptors and hormone related mechanisms in the brain as well as conditions caused by these. Torbjörn Bäckström holds several patents and is the author of more than 400 scientific articles. Umecrine AB was founded in 2000 with a focus on drug development against the physical and mental conditions caused by natural stress and sex hormones that modulate GABA A receptor activity in the central nervous system. Two subsidiaries of Umecrine was formed in 2006, Umecrine Cognition and Asarina Pharma (originally Umecrine Mood), to focus on the development of hepatic encephalopathy (hepatic coma), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.  

“We are very pleased to welcome Torbjörn Bäckström to Diamyd Medical,” says Erik Nerpin, Chairman of Diamyd Medical. ”Professor Bäckström’s contacts, expertise and experience in biotech companies as well as GABA related disease mechanisms will be of great importance to the strategic work of the company.”

About Diamyd Medical
Diamyd Medical is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and other serious inflammatory diseases through pharmaceutical development and investments in stem cell and medical technology.

Diamyd Medical develops the diabetes vaccine Diamyd^®, an antigen-specific immunotherapy based on the exclusively licensed GAD-molecule. At this time six clinical studies are ongoing with Diamyd^®. GABA constitutes alongside with the diabetes vaccine a key asset in Diamyd Medical and the Company uses its GABA in-licensed technology to develop a proprietary GABA drug product. Diamyd Medical is one of the major shareholders in the stem cell company NextCell Pharma AB (previous Cellaviva AB). Diamyd Medical also has holdings in the medtech company Companion Medical, Inc., San Diego, USA and in the gene therapy company Periphagen, Inc., Pittsburgh, USA.

Diamyd Medical’s B-share is traded on Nasdaq Stockholm First North under the ticker DMYD B. FNCA Sweden AB is the Company’s Certified Adviser.

For further information, please contact:
Ulf Hannelius, President and CEO
Phone: +46 736 35 42 41. E-mail: ulf.hannelius@diamyd.com

Diamyd Medical AB (publ)
Kungsgatan 29, SE-111 56 Stockholm, Sweden. Phone: +46 8 661 00 26, Fax: +46 8 661 63 68
E-mail: info@diamyd.com. Reg. no.: 556242-3797. Website: www.diamyd.com.

This information is information that Diamyd Medical AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 8.30 CET on January 10, 2017.