AptaTargets

AptaTargets, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm headquartered in Madrid, Spain, was established in 2014 as a spin-out from the aptamer technology platform Aptus Biotech. The company was co-founded by David Segarra, Maria Eugenia Zarabozo, and Victor Manuel Gonzalez Munoz. CEO David Segarra, an entrepreneur in aptamer technology, previously co-founded and led Aptus Biotech and Igen, bringing experience in genetic kits and management consulting. Co-founder and CFO Maria Eugenia Zarabozo also has a background with Aptus Biotech and Igen Biotech and specializes in financing and intellectual property for biotechnology firms.

The company's core business revolves around developing therapeutic applications using aptamer technology, which involves using single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules (aptamers) that bind to specific targets with high affinity. This approach is positioned as an alternative to traditional antibodies, offering potential benefits such as lower immunogenicity, higher stability, and more cost-effective manufacturing. AptaTargets' business model focuses on advancing its drug candidates through preclinical and clinical stages to establish proof-of-concept, with the ultimate goal of securing licensing agreements. The company has successfully raised capital through multiple funding rounds, including a Series A of €2.7 million in 2017 and a second round in 2020 that mobilized up to €5 million, with investors like Inveready, Caixa Capital Risc, and the Spanish government's CDTI Innvierte program participating.

AptaTargets' lead product candidate is ApTOLL, a first-in-class aptamer designed to treat acute-phase ischemic stroke. ApTOLL functions as a neuroprotectant and immunomodulator by targeting and antagonizing the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). This receptor is a key trigger in the inflammatory cascade that follows a stroke, and by inhibiting it, ApTOLL aims to reduce inflammation, limit brain damage, and improve patient outcomes. Clinical trial results have been promising, with a Phase 1b/2a trial demonstrating a significant reduction in mortality, from 18% to 5%, in acute ischemic stroke patients. The company's pipeline extends beyond ischemic stroke to investigate ApTOLL's efficacy in other conditions where inflammation plays a critical role, including intracerebral hemorrhage, myocardial infarction, and multiple sclerosis, with several programs currently in preclinical development.

Keywords: AptaTargets, ApTOLL, aptamer technology, ischemic stroke treatment, neuroprotection, immunomodulation, TLR4 antagonist, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical, David Segarra, Aptus Biotech, brain damage reduction, myocardial infarction therapy, multiple sclerosis treatment, venture capital-backed, Caixa Capital Risc, Inveready, CDTI Innvierte, neurovascular disease, drug development, oligonucleotide therapeutics, single-stranded DNA, inflammatory response, clinical trials