Company background

Axelar AB is a Swedish biotechnology company that was founded in 2003 by Professor Magnus Axelson, Professor Olle Larsson and Karolinska Innovations AB. The company focuses its research and other activities on inhibitors of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor and their applications in important human diseases, especially cancer. Axelar AB is situated in the Karolinska Institutet Science Park, Stockholm, Sweden.

Mission

Axelar’s overall objective is to develop innovative small-molecule compounds that inhibit the IGF-1 receptor for treatment of IGF-1 receptor-dependent diseases where a significant unmet medical need still exists. Axelar aspires to move these compounds into the clinic and then to enter partnerships that ensures global development and commercialization.

Management team

Axelar’s management team consists of Johan Harmenberg (CEO and Medical Director), Marek Poszepczynski (VP Business Development), Birgitta Ståhl (Project Director and Director of Clinical Research), Ola Flink (Director of CMC), Kjell Gunnarsson (Director of Pre-clinical Safety), Kristina Carlsson (Director of Regulatory) and Maria Klockare (QA manager).

Board of directors

The Board of Directors consists of Göran Pettersson (Chairman), Carl Harald Janson, Magnus Axelson, Olle Larsson, Ingemar Kihlström, Per-Olof Edin and Johan Harmenberg (CEO) as an ad hoc member.

Göran Pettersson, M.Sc. Pharm., MBA, has held leading positions in Astra, KabiVitrum, Pharmacia/PharmaciaUpJohn and Meda. Currently, he is also chairman of the board in Medivir AB, OxyPharma AB and Vivoxid Oy, and board member in Diamyd Medical AB, Pfizer Sweden Pensionsstiftelse and Recipharm AB.

Carl Harald Janson, MD, PhD, CEFA, Investment Manager at Karolinska Development, brings over 25 years of experience in medicine, pharmaceutical industry and investment management including senior positions at Astra Arcus AB, Hagströmer & Qviberg Fondkommission AB, Danske Securities, and Carnegie Investment Bank AB.

Magnus Axelson, MD, PhD, is Professor at the Department of Clinical Chemistry at the Karolinska Institute/Hospital in Stockholm with more than 35 years of experience in basic medical research. Professor Axelson’s research has primarily focused on structure and biological activity of small molecules, particularly steroids, lignans, and congeners.

Olle Larsson, MD, PhD, is Professor at the Cancer Center Karolinska (CCK) at the Karolinska Institute, in Stockholm with more than 30 years of experience in basic medical research. Professor Larsson’s research has primarily focused on cell cycle regulation, protein prenylation, fusion genes and role of the IGF-1 receptor in cancer.

Ingemar Kihlström, Ph.D., has held leading positions in Pharmacia, Aros Securities and ABG Sundal Collier. He is currently serving as board member in a number of Scandinavian companies including being chairman of the board in Artimplant AB, Creative Antibiotics AB, Hammercap AB and RecoPharma AB, and vice chairman of the board in Diagenic ASA.

Per-Olof Edin, representing the Baltic Sea foundation. He is currently serving as board member of Karolinska Development, Cereal Base CEBA AB, The Seventh Swedish Pension Fund and Svenskt Rekonstruktionskapital AB.

CEO Johan Harmenberg, MD, PhD is Associate Professor with more than 30 years of experience in preclinical and clinical pharmaceutical drug development. Before joining Axelar, Dr Harmenberg held various senior positions within the Karolinska Institute, Hoffman La Roche, Astra AB, Pharmacia AB, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Medivir AB and Algeta ASA.