Aptahem strengthens its research and development organisation with industrial expertise in cardiovascular diseases and clinical development

2017-02-07

Aptahem can today announce that it has entered into an agreement with lecturer and registered practitioner Anders Bylock, a well-known expert on issues related to cardiovascular treatment including pre-clinical development, clinical trials and regulatory submissions. Dr Bylock will provide clinical support to Aptahem’s development team, supply expertise in the cardiovascular field, as well as launch and lead Aptahem’s scientific advisory board.

Docent Bylock specialised in thoracic surgery at Uppsala University Hospital, and since then has had an international career in cardiovascular research and development in Europe and the US. His first position in the pharmaceutical sector was as Director of Clinical Research at MSD Sweden, and since then he has held several positions during his 17 years at AstraZeneca. While there, Bylock has, for example, served as Director of Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Drug Safety departments, and subsequently Senior Medical Adviser with medical responsibility for arterial indications. He was later responsible for the registration process of orthopaedic surgical thromboprophylaxis for the first thrombin inhibitor, (Ximelagatran). His career continued with several years as Disease Area Medical Leader for thrombosis and haemostasis projects. From 2011 until last year, Dr Bylock was Senior Global Director at the Global Clinical Development & Medical Affairs department, at Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH & Co KG in Germany, where he provided medical leadership for a large number of cardiovascular projects at various stages of development.

“We’re delighted with the recruitment of Dr Bylock to our clinical team. His expertise in the field of cardiovascular diseases and practical experience is highly relevant for Aptahem. His recruitment will also strengthen our industrial inputs and knowledge about how Apta-1’s unique characteristics should be developed to match the expected standards of one of the segment’s leading companies,” says Mikael Lindstam, Aptahem CEO.

Aptahem develops drug candidates to treat and prevent illnesses that cause the blocking of blood vessels, such as deep vein thrombosis, stroke or heart failure. Aptahem’s primary candidate, Apta-1, is being developed as an entirely new type of treatment with coagulation inhibiting and anti-inflammatory effects. Blood clot treatment is currently a billion-kroner market where leading treatments are hampered by an elevated risk of bleeding. Apta-1 belongs to a different substance class to other therapies. Experimental data suggests reduced risk of bleeding with Apta-1. In animal studies, Aptahem has not yet demonstrated any toxic effects despite extremely high doses of Apta-1.

For further information:
Mikael Lindstam, CEO Aptahem AB
Tel: + 46 (0)766-33 36 99
E-mail: ml@aptahem.com

About Aptahem
Aptahem is developing drug candidates for the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by blockages in blood vessels as the result of blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and heart failure. Thrombosis, also called clot, is the medical term for an increased and unhealthy coagulation of blood cells that cause more than 30 percent of all deaths worldwide. Thrombosis occurs either through genetic inheritance or by thrombosis occurs in conjunction with surgery, trauma, due to medication or by the victim suffering from a disease such as cancer. The company holds patents for Europe, China, the United States and Canada and the patent application in India.

Forward-looking statements
This communication contains statements about the future, consisting of subjective assumptions and forecasts for future scenarios. Predictions for the future only apply as of the date they are made and are, by their nature, as well as research and development work in the biotech segment, associated with risk and uncertainty. With this in mind, the actual outcome may deviate significantly from the scenarios described in this press release.

This information is information which Aptahem AB (publ) is obliged to publish under the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was provided by the auspices of the above contact person, for publication on February 6, 2017.