Prodrugs offer a strategic approach to therapeutics by enhancing drug delivery, efficacy, and patient outcomes. They are covalent modifications of drugs with chemical handles that are cleaved in the body, undergoing chemical or enzymatic transformations to release the active form. Designed to improve solubility, bioavailability, and stability, prodrugs address limitations of the parent compound while reducing side effects and increasing therapeutic specificity.
Prodrugs
Prodrugs are used in many medical fields including oncology, infectious diseases, psychiatry, and neurology, and examples like L-dopa (Parkinson’s), Tamiflu (influenza), and Prednisone (inflammation) highlight their versatility and commercial success.
Axelyf’s proprietary prodrug, ‘BPH-555’, is effective in an arthritis model
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AXL lipid library
Lipids are abundant, diverse biomolecules essential for membranes, energy storage, and signaling. They form the basis of liposomes and self-assembling lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), versatile platforms for drug delivery. Building on this foundation, the astaxanthin prodrug series marks the start of Axelyf’s proprietary chemistry, and our scientists are building a digital library of novel chemicals and formulations for mRNA delivery using advanced LNP modeling.
In August 2024, Axelyf completed acquisition of an integrated lipid library from 76bio. This molecular library of potent delivery compounds for mRNA drugs enables us to pursue best-in-class LNPs for our own product candidates and partner our technology for products of other companies in the future.
The Axelyf LNP library series (A, B, C, D) shows highly potent liver delivery and potential for extra-hepatic targeting. Potency compares favorably with industry standard formulation LP-01 (STD) which is commonly used in gene editing clinical trial programs. Several compounds show increased potency compared to LP-01.
Partnering and collaboration
Axelyf is exploring partnership and collaboration on AXL lipid library and capabilities to deliver best-in-class RNA-LNP technology for medicines. Please get in touch with us at info@axelyf.com if you’d like to learn more about our technology.