Our strategy
Abliva is focused on becoming the leading biotech company in mitochondrial medicine, developing therapeutics for mitochondrial diseases, orphan indications of high unmet medical need. The company intends to build a fully integrated research, development, and commercial organization, developing innovative therapeutics and taking them directly to the patients.
Addressing Primary Mitochondrial Diseases
Mitochondria function as the powerhouses of our cells and are crucial for the cells’ energy metabolism. Primary mitochondrial diseases are rare orphan diseases where the energy metabolism in the cells is impaired, causing deterioration that leads to multifaceted disorders and great suffering for patients. The symptoms worsen over time and, in many cases, the diseases lead to premature mortality. Mitochondrial medicine has become an area of increasing focus for the pharmaceutical industry as there are currently no effective treatment options. Through Abliva’s research and development, we have an opportunity to improve the quality of life for these patients.
Delivering a Portfolio of First-in-Class Therapies
Abliva’s in-house R&D capabilities have been instrumental in creating and delivering a portfolio that includes several projects with mechanisms of action suitable for a wide range of mitochondrial diseases.
KL1333 restores the balance of the coenzymes NAD+ and NADH, creating new mitochondria and improved energy levels. KL1333 has completed a number of key Phase 1 studies that enabled the start of a potentially registrational Phase 2 study in 2022. KL1333 is protected by both a composition of matter patent as well as Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) in the U.S. and in Europe. The commercial opportunity is significant with even conservative estimates exceeding $1B/year in annual sales1).
NV354, an energy replacement therapy, is a pro-drug of succinate. The drug was invented by Abliva scientists at Lund University and is supported by a strong group of patents. NV354 is being developed for the mitochondrial disease Leigh Syndrome initially with potential to expand to other indications that have a dysfunctional complex I in the electron transport chain.
Additionally, Abliva has additional efforts ongoing in discovery that are focused on the regulation and stabilization of the mitochondrion’s energy production.
Leveraging Opportunities in Rare Diseases
Abliva is continually working to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to companies working in the rare disease space. The company requested, and was granted, orphan drug designation (ODD) for KL1333 in both the US and EU. ODD is a regulatory designation that provides sponsors with a number of advantages including more regulatory assistance and scientific advice during the development process, lower development costs, attractive pricing, and market exclusivity (10 years in the EU and 7 years in the US). The outlook for reaching the market is also better than for traditional medicines2,3).
In addition, we have sought scientific advice from pharmaceutical regulators in the US, UK and Europe. This advice has been extremely important to the company, as is clearly demonstrated with the advice from the FDA that led us to move to a single, potentially registrational Phase 2 study, allowing us to get to market more quickly.
1) Gorman et al., Prevalence of Nuclear and Mitochondrial DNA Mutations Related to Adult Mitochondrial Disease, 2015.
2) Jayasundra et al. Orphanet J of Rare Dis. Estimating the clinical cost of drug development for orphan versus non-orphan drugs. 2019.
3) EvaluatePharma, Orphan Drug Report 2019.