The Axelyf team combines decades of history with the science and craft of pharmaceutical R&D, including small and large molecule therapeutics development and mRNA vaccine delivery systems. Axelyf is focused on small molecule drugs, particularly those from natural sources that have promise but need drug delivery optimization. Our first program is an oral prodrug of astaxanthin. Prodrugs are chemical modifications of drugs or pharmacologically active molecules, which cleave in the body to expose the drug or active agent.
Astaxanthin occurs in nature as a mixture of free astaxanthin, which is chemically unstable and fatty acid ester mixtures that are highly water-insoluble and not optimized for oral delivery as a pharmaceutical. Our solution is a pharmaceutically elegant composition of astaxanthin and a vitamin metabolite, a small molecule that is naturally in the body. The resulting molecule is a prodrug now in early development to in inflammatory conditions. We are determined to express the activity and leverage the safety of astaxanthin prodrugs as a therapeutic agent in the future.
Chemical structure of bioactive astaxanthin
We are combining aspects of chemistry, formulation, pharmacology, and drug disposition to enable the first program heading to clinical trials. Our product candidates have patent applications pending, and the team is adept at the intersection of intellectual property and pharmaceutical science.
Axelyf Ehf
Sudurvangur 25, Hafnarfjordur, IS