Company background

The ANXV development programme is based on discoveries made by Dr. Anna Frostegård and Prof. Johan Frostegård at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. Annexin Pharmaceuticals AB (publ) was established in 2014 in Stockholm, Sweden. It is currently listed on NASDAQ First North, Sweden.

"Since the very moment we saw the first indication that Annexin A5 might be a very potent and useful medicine, we have been advancing this protein through preclinical and clinical development. Moving it closer and closer to patients. Our mission is to investigate if ANXV holds its promise as a safe and effective drug with a broad therapeutic potential."

Anna Frostegård, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, Co-Founder

History

History of ANXV and Annexin Pharmaceuticals

The protein Annexin A5 has been used for many years in laboratories. However, the idea of using it as a medicine originates from Dr. Anna Frostegård and Professor Johan Frostegård at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.

The discovery of a potential medicine

The development programme of Annexin Pharmaceuticals is based on an earlier discovery by Dr. Anna Frostegård and Professor Johan Frostegård at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. They performed research with Annexin A5, and in year 2004 they discovered that it had an effect on an inflammatory component of atherosclerosis in blood vessels. This finding was the basis for the decision to develop Annexin A5 as a medicine.

First step – manufacturing process and intellectual property

In year 2005 the project was purchased by Athera Biotechnologies AB (part of Karolinska Development). Substantial investments were made in the ANXV formulation and the ANXV manufacturing process, as well as its intellectual property.

Back to the originators

Between 2005 and 2013, Athera Biotechnologies performed preclinical research, with focus on large cardiovascular diseases, however in 2013 the project was divested due to strategic reasons. Medirista AB (owned by Anna and Johan Frostegård) acquire the rights to the project, as well as to the four patent families.

Annexin Pharmaceuticals established

Annexin Pharmaceuticals AB (publ) was established in 2014. It is now a world-leading biotech company in the Annexin A5 field. Dr Anna Frostegård is still active within the company as CSO and CMO. The biological drug candidate ANXV – a human recombinant protein, Annexin A5 – is primarily intended for the acute treatment of a number of diseases that include vascular damage and inflammation.