The article, titled A Lipid Target Phosphatidylserine and Annexin A5–A Future Theranostic Pairing in Ophthalmology, has been published online. The authors are Anna Frostegård, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, and Anders Haegerstrand, CEO of Annexin Pharmaceuticals.

The article provides an overview of the current understanding of the potential roles of phosphatidylserine (PS) as a target and Annexin A5 as a therapeutic in the ophthalmology space. The review highlights the need of a comprehensive understanding of the key molecular mechanisms involved in retinal diseases that may open for new treatment paradigms, reaching beyond the current standard-of-care, so called anti-VEGF drugs. It also discusses the need for easy to administer safe drugs with an effect on the cause rather than the complications of vascular retinal disease. As such, it reviews the current scientific evidence of PS being a novel lipid target and a key driver involved in vascular retinal pathology. The potential of ANXV (an investigational new drug containing a recombinantly produced human Annexin A5) as an innovative first-in-class medicine that inhibits PS-dependent pathways in vascular disease and acts upstream of anti VEGF is also described.

“We are very pleased to announce the publication of our peer-reviewed article in the Special Issue of Pharmaceuticals. There is still a great unmet need for safe and effective medicines with new mechanisms of action for the management of patients with vascular retinal diseases and this issue of the journal is specifically dedicated to the up-and-coming novel treatments and technologies in retinal diseases. We are proud to see the novel concept that we are currently advancing in clinical development to have a place in such a prominent publication,” said Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Anna Frostegård.

The investigation of systemically administered ANXV in patients with RVO is one example of ongoing efforts to provide additional safe, durable and effective therapies in retinal disease space. The first trial with ANXV in anti-VEGF treatment naïve patients with recently diagnosed RVO, an open label Phase 2a proof-of-concept study, is ongoing in the USA with the top-line results expected before the end of the summer.

The review is now available online via the following link: Pharmaceuticals | Free Full-Text | New Therapeutic Strategies in Retinal Vascular Diseases: A Lipid Target, Phosphatidylserine, and Annexin A5—A Future Theranostic Pairing in Ophthalmology (mdpi.com)

The article is a part of a special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247) in a section of "Pharmaceutical Technology". The Pharmaceuticals journal allows open access without a subscription.

This document has been prepared in a Swedish and English version. In the event of any deviations, the Swedish version shall prevail.

For further information, please contact:
Anders Haegerstrand, CEO
Phone: +46 (0)70 - 575 50 37

Anna Frostegård, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer
Phone: +46 (0)701 104 258
Mail: anna.frostegard@annexinpharma.com

About Annexin Pharmaceuticals AB
Annexin Pharmaceuticals AB is a leading biotechnology company in the Annexin A5 field for the treatment of various diseases. The company’s biological drug candidate ANXV – a human recombinant protein, Annexin A5 – is primarily intended for treatment of patients with injuries and inflammation of the blood vessels, but also for cancer. The company has an extensive patent portfolio for the treatment of diseases with Annexin A5 and for production of Annexin A5.

The Company is based in Stockholm, Sweden and listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market, under the ticker ANNX. Redeye is the company´s Certified Adviser.