Natural compounds, engineered
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.
Astaxanthin occurs naturally and acts as a potent anti-inflammatory molecule when pure. However, it is found in nature in a mixture of chemically unstable and water-insoluble compounds which are not well absorbed by our bodies. This is a challenging problem when developing drugs for oral delivery as pharmaceuticals.
Astaxanthin is a so-called xanthophyll compound, a carotenoid which is active, safe, and naturally found in food like salmon and shrimp.
Our astaxanthin material starts as a natural molecule from non-GMO algae culture and ends as a prodrug which we found to have anti-inflammatory activity rivalling marketed drugs, with high oral bioavailability and favorable distribution properties in preclinical tests.
Axelyf’s solution is an elegant formulation composed of astaxanthin and a vitamin metabolite — a small molecule native to the body. The resulting proprietary prodrug, a chemically stable modified drug which cleaves in the body to effectively expose the active pharmacological agent, is currently in early development to treat inflammatory conditions.
Our platform enables potent, selective, tissue-specific degradation of historically undruggable targets.