Aptahem strengthens the company’s management team with the appointment of a new Chief Medical Officer in advance of the clinical program

Aptahem AB (publ) is a biotechnology company that develops aptamer-based pharmaceuticals for the treatment of life-threatening conditions in which a combination of coagulation and inflammation are involved in the disease process. Aptahem is today pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Anders Bylock to the position of Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Aptahem is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Anders Bylock to the position of CMO to strengthen the company’s management team prior to the start of the company´s clinical program. For the past year, Dr. Bylock has been responsible for the major part of the planning towards the company´s clinical development program, and has maintained company contacts with external experts.

Dr Bylock is a registered physician and with a specialisation in thoracic surgery from Uppsala University Hospital. He commences his position CMO at Aptahem after a long international career in Europe and the US, at MSD Sweden, AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim. His responsibilities as chairman of the company´s scientific Advisory board will run in parallel to his new medical responsibilities. Dr Bylock takes over from Dr Kjell G Stenberg, who will continue as the company’s chairman of the board.

CEO Mikael Lindstam comments: “Aptahem is facing an important milestone in the development work of Apta-1 as we start preparations for clinical phase 1. It is therefore vital that we allocate the necessary resources and secure medical competence in the company’s leadership. I am therefore delighted and also grateful that Dr Bylock will now assume the position of CMO after a year of close teamwork. Dr. Bylock has been crucial in the design of our new development strategy, and I am certain that he is exactly the right person to take responsibility for our clinical program. Over and above his valuable medical experience, recruiting Dr Bylock’s gives us access his extensive industrial network of potential collaboration partners. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Kjell G Stenberg for his creditable contributions to the company as the CMO until now.”

Aptahem is developing Apta-1, an injectable drug candidate with good product characteristics, and which has shown significant survival in an industry-standardized animal model for sepsis and septic shock. The manufacturing process for the large-scale production of Apta-1 was recently finalized and the drug candidate is now in the final phase of the company’s preclinical development program. The program is progressing without delays, and the next step is to initiate manufacturing according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines, which is required in order to initiate the clinical program. Several important studies are expected to be completed this year, and GMP certificates obtained. Forthcoming developmental activities include a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) -regulated safety study, a toxicology study, detailed studies around the Apta-1 Mechanism of Action and a study in a higher primate model.

All activities can be regarded as important milestones for the company since the results will form the basis of the company’s application to the Swedish medical products agency for approval to initiate a clinical trial and to strengthen the Apta-1 profile in collaborative discussions.

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

Forward-looking statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements, 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 is research and development work in the biotechnology segment, associated with risk and uncertainty. With this in mind, the actual outcome may deviate significantly from the scenarios as described in this press release.

About Aptahem
Aptahem AB (APTA) is a biotechnology company that develops aptamer-based pharmaceuticals for the treatment of life-threatening conditions in which a combination of coagulation and inflammation are involved. The company’s primary pharmaceutical candidate, Apta-1, is being developed with the aim of preventing the high mortality rate caused by organ and tissue damage in sepsis patients, among others. The company possesses patent protection in strategic target markets and actively seeks business development opportunities with potential collaborators.