Aplagon
Overview
Aplagon Oy is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company established in 2009 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. It focuses on developing innovative therapeutics for thrombo-inflammatory diseases, notably APAC, a unique triple-action agent with antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Founded based on pioneering research, Aplagon has aimed to address unmet medical needs in managing cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases. It has successfully raised significant investments, including a recent EUR 7 million in funding to push its primary therapeutic candidate through advanced clinical trials.
Recent Developments
In recent years, Aplagon has made significant strides in advancing its clinical and therapeutic agenda:
- February 3, 2025: Aplagon announced the closing of a EUR 7 million funding round led by Fåhraeus Startup and Growth AB and the European Innovation Council Fund. This investment will facilitate the Phase 2a clinical trial for APAC in treating chronic limb-threatening ischemia, while also completing three other ongoing trials.
- October 24, 2024: The company dosed the first patient in the CHASE clinical trial for APAC, demonstrating promising initial safety outcomes.
- November 16, 2022: Aplagon signed an EIC-Accelerator Grant Agreement, providing financial support to scale up its innovative approaches in managing thrombo-inflammatory conditions.
- Collaborations: Aplagon entered a significant agreement with Cadila Pharmaceuticals to co-develop and commercialize its APAC product for use in India and beyond. This partnership aims to leverage Cadila's manufacturing capacity to advance APAC efficiently.
- Clinical Trials: APAC's robust pipeline includes various trials like PET imaging studies in collaboration with international CROs to better understand the compound’s retention and efficacy in vascular injury sites.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Helsinki, Finland |
| Founders | Based on research by Prof. Riitta Lassila |
| Revenue | Not publicly disclosed |
| Profits | Not publicly disclosed |
| Key Investors | FSG, EIC Fund, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation |
| Industry | Biopharmaceuticals |
| Number of Employees | Not publicly disclosed |
Early History
Aplagon was conceived out of ground-breaking research on mast cell-derived heparin proteoglycans led by Prof. Riitta Lassila. Established in 2009 in Helsinki, the company quickly focused its efforts on addressing thrombo-inflammatory diseases due to their significant contribution to global morbidity. Early on, Aplagon recognized the potential of APAC, a proprietary molecule with targeted anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects, which became the cornerstone of its research and development efforts.
Company Profile and Achievements
Aplagon’s business model emphasizes novel therapeutic development in biopharmaceuticals, specifically targeting thrombo-inflammatory conditions with significant unmet needs:
- APAC Development: Aplagon's lead product, APAC, represents a first-in-class therapeutic with potential applications across a variety of vascular diseases, including prevention of arteriovenous fistula maturation failure and critical limb ischemia.
- Clinical Milestones: Over the years, APAC has successfully moved through several trial phases, exhibiting promising results in both safety and efficacy.
- Funding and Partnerships: The company has attracted substantial funding from Nordic and European investors, crucial for advancing its clinical trials and securing headquarters in Helsinki.
- Innovation and Patents: Aplagon has been a forerunner in utilizing heparin proteoglycan mimetics, leveraging this to secure partnerships and patents that safeguard its innovative therapy models for treating cardiovascular complications.
Current Operations and Market Position
Aplagon currently focuses on the development and trial phases of its APAC therapeutic, with clinical studies geographically spread across Finland and India. Its collaborations, notably with Cadila Pharmaceuticals, are pivotal in scaling both the production and application of APAC globally, especially in emerging markets. The company maintains a robust R&D protocol to ensure APAC's optimal development and expects to influence cardiovascular drug markets significantly should its trials continue to yield favorable results.
Conclusion
Aplagon represents a key innovator within the biopharmaceutical sector, targeting the critical intersection of thrombotic and inflammatory diseases. By strategically advancing its flagship product APAC through rigorous clinical trials, Aplagon is poised to deliver significant therapeutic options for conditions currently lacking effective treatment modalities. With support from experienced investors and strong international partnerships, the company looks forward to pivotal market entries and regulatory approvals in the near future, aiming to become a cornerstone entity in its field.