Aptahems main candidate Apta-1 is being developed as an emergency drug for sepsis, with the goal of preventing the onset of life-threatening organ and tissue damage that can occur in connection with the condition.
Collaboration with researchers in Toronto
In 2020, Aptahem began, thanks to an initiating research proposal by Dr. Luiza Jedlina, CSO and founder of Aptahem, a collaboration with a research group at University Health Network in TorontoThe study is led by professor Mingyao Liu together with Dr. JedlinaThe collaboration has included several study stages in a Covid-induced SARS model. According to Aptahem, the virus used in the studies is approximately 10 times more deadly than the virus that causes Covid-19.
Already in 2021, the collaboration generated encouraging data, showing positive biological effects that, according to Aptahem, included evidence that Apta-1 supports and maintains systemic circulation, a very important part in protecting the organism in cases such as sepsis. Furthermore, it could be seen that Apta-1 significantly reduces bleeding in the lung tissue, inhibits hemolysis and inflammatory response while vital organs remain stable.
CEO comments on the publication in Cells
Aptahem has previously announced that it is working on completing a manuscript describing the progress, with the intention of publishing this in a scientific journal. Yesterday it became clear that the Swiss scientific journal Cells. Cells. – with an impact factor of 6 – 7 – had accepted and published the manuscript.
The article can be read here: "Therapeutic effects of a novel aptamer on coronaviral infection induced lung injury and systemic inflammatory responses".
BioStock contacted Aptahem's CEO Mikael Lindstam to get his view on what the publication in Cells means in the long term for the company.
Yes Mikael, what does it mean to you to have an article published in Cells?
– Yes, it is of course a strong sign of value to have been assessed for publication through peer review by renowned experts and their editorial teams. Since we are at the forefront of this type of new and multi-effective candidate, it can be expected that the burden of proof, etc., will require significantly greater support to gain understanding so that it leads to publication. This opens up the possibility for us to refer to ourselves in other scientific articles we work on and thereby facilitate the acceptance of the fine and positively complex results we have generated over the years.
What are the most important conclusions that can be drawn from the article?
– That we can have a protective and supportive effect on virus-induced acute lung conditions and, as a bonus, also see that we can reduce the amount of virus was something we could not have predicted. The results also resonate with the results we have from our bacterial toxin (LPS) stimulated sepsis models, which is of course a testament to Apta-1's ability to manage severe inflammatory conditions.
Could the publication in any way affect your ongoing discussions with potential partners?
– Yes, we really hope so, as it is a confirmation of what we announced earlier about our results assessed by independent experts in the subject. It will also be positive for continued clinical and scientific collaborations.
Finally, what milestones do you see ahead for the rest of 2024?
– First and foremost, we will reach the goal with a report of phase 1a and, before that, preliminary results of this study, which is in its final phase, planning of the next clinical development stage and potentially more publications from the large harvest of results we have generated.