Mikael Lindstam, CEO of Aptahem
| Published April 1, 2016

New effective drug against blood clot formation under development

Cardiovascular diseases such as blood clots, thrombosis, are responsible for just over 30 percent of all deaths in the world. Aptahem's drug candidate, Apta-1, has shown in studies that it can effectively counteract the onset of thrombosis. The capital from the ongoing issue will take the company further into clinical studies.

– We have reached several important milestones. We are now working on preclinical safety and toxicology studies. The next step is for us to apply to conduct clinical studies for Apta-1, says Mikael Lindstam, CEO of the pharmaceutical company Aptahem, which is listed on Aktietorget.
Aptahem has three patented drug candidates in its portfolio. The company is focusing on Apta-1 because it is the most advanced in development and has good market potential. Apta-1 is a new type of drug against blood clots. Preclinical studies, i.e. studies on animals, show that Apta-1 prevents the formation of blood clots while eliminating the risk of bleeding.
According to Mikael Lindstam, increased bleeding risk is a very serious side effect that existing anti-clotting drugs can cause. Patients who have suffered from blood clots often have to receive such high therapeutic doses that it entails a relatively high risk of bleeding.
– Therefore, there is a great demand for a drug that does not cause bleeding. The preclinical studies show very positive results. Today, we cannot see any side effects whatsoever even at 500 times the intended therapeutic dose, and in addition, Apta-1 does not accumulate in the body., says Mikael Lindstam.
Rights issue guaranteed at 80 percent
Aptahem is conducting a rights issue between April 18 and May 2. The issue is for SEK 19,5 million before issue costs and is 80 percent guaranteed. The capital will partly finance the remainder of Aptahem's preclinical development program and the implementation of the first clinical study, which is to begin in the first half of 2017.
The market for anticoagulant and blood-thinning drugs is estimated at SEK 130 billion. Many blockbuster anticoagulant drugs have lost their patent protection. This has meant that the major pharmaceutical companies are desperately searching for new drugs. Aptahem has patents for its three drug candidates in Europe, China, the USA and Canada, as well as a patent application in India.
– I am in regular dialogue with several of the largest players. Our goal is to either license Apta-1 or form a partnership, says Mikael Lindstam.
Exciting future
In March, Aptahem released news from a study that showed that Apta-1 also has anti-inflammatory properties. In the long term, this opens up great opportunities with a significantly greater market potential.
– The therapeutic potential of Apta-1 increases from solely inhibiting blood clotting to also being able to counteract certain inflammatory processes in the cardiovascular system, concludes Mikael Lindstam.
Mikael Lindstam recently gave a talk at the Stockholm Corporate Finance Life Science & Healthcare Seminar which can be viewed here.
You can also read more about Aptahem on the company's website, which you can find here. here.
 
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