Axelyf was founded in 2022 in Iceland to design and develop medicines for inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. A large part of our interest is to harness the safety and long history of natural products to improve health and promote well-being. The initial focus is on novel prodrugs of astaxanthin, which is a natural lipid compound found in various food sources.

Our astaxanthin prodrug optimized for oral administration is entering clinical trials in 2025 as a drug candidate to treat inflammation. The team is based in Iceland, the UK, and the USA, working virtually on our programs with collaborators and distinguished advisors around the world. Our expanding global network is being brought to bear on additional programs that we are creating for the future, based on lipid technologies including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for delivery of RNA therapeutics. Iceland is an ideal base for the company, and we are proud to call ourselves Icelandic innovators.

Founders

The Axelyf Team

Core Values

Excellence

We want the best possible science and R&D to happen, and we are obsessed with learning. The science of pharmaceutical R&D is often complex, and we need to strive for excellent work that can be interpreted clearly for the best possible learning each time.

Integrity

We want to do the right thing, always, even when it is hard to do or when no one is looking. Our collaborators, clinical professionals, and patients in the future, deserve nothing less from us.

Transparency

Our team is small, and we are open with one another. We work closely on challenging tasks and programs, so we need to be clear about the issues and stay solutions focused, together.