Inflammation is an integral part of the defensive mechanism of our body. Initiated by the immune system upon recognition of “foreign” stimuli, it is the first line of defence against pathogens, toxoids, and other irritants, including potentially harmful dying or hyperproliferating cells (e.g., tumours). If short term “acute inflammation” is not successfully resolved, the continuous inflammatory process (chronic inflammation) can lead to tissue or organs damage, resulting in long term disorders, as highlighted recently by pathologies associated with long-term COVID.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers chronic diseases as the greatest threat to human health. Chronic inflammatory disorders are the leading cause of death in the world, including cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and other autoimmune disorders.
Axelyf uses prodrugs of natural lipids, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), machine learning and the expertise of its team to work on important challenges in inflammatory disease areas. We aim to target acute inflammation before it progresses and to treat chronic inflammation after it has been manifested, using the safest possible interventions to ultimately improve outcomes for patients.
The normal metabolic equilibrium in our body is fundamental for our wellbeing, but it can be affected by many factors. Factor disrupting this equilibrium can be “external”, such as other disease or life-style occurrences (e.g., diet, smoke, activity). However, a large number of metabolic disorders are caused by mechanism that are cell intrinsic, caused by either epigenetic or genetic factors.
The diseases associated with metabolism dysfunctions are many, ranging from diabetes, kidney and liver dysfunction. Axelyf has chosen to work in this arena, as the prevalence and costs of disorders such as obesity and NAFLD (fatty liver disease) represent a growing social and health burden around the world. Challenges of treating sick livers include the reality that diseased livers are not able to metabolize and clear appropriately some synthetic drugs.
Axelyf has decided to use a multipronged approach to metabolic disorders to bypass this issue. Our lead program is based on natural astaxanthin, a molecule that is present in many sources of nutrients (e.g., algae, salmon flesh and shrimp) and, although poorly absorbed, is well tolerated and with proven anti-oxidant activity. In order to improve its drug-like characteristics, we use a prodrug strategy that includes the addition of a well-tolerated vitamin metabolite to improve oral delivery and optimize liver exposure.
Additionally, we will use our proprietary novel LNPs to deliver RNA cargoes to corrects metabolic disorders robustly linked to genetic factor. Axelyf new lipids are aimed to enable delivery to the right organs, while curbing the intrinsic and treatment-limiting inflammogenic properties of existing LNPs.
Axelyf Ehf
Sudurvangur 25, Hafnarfjordur, IS