Aplagon is developing APAC as the first vascular injury-targeting therapeutic for the local treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI), the most advanced stage of peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).
PAOD is caused by fatty deposits (atherosclerosis) which will inflame the arteries, leading to blood clot formation (thromboinflammation) in the blood circulation of the affected limb and throughout the body.
Thromboinflammation will markedly impair blood flow, often leading to full arterial occlusion. APAC uniquely targets these vessels, downregulates thromboinflammation, and prevents progression of atherosclerosis, the main contributors of PAOD/CLI.
APAC is administered intravenously (iv) at time of revascularization and intermittently during the first critical postoperative month.
Worldwide 30 million patients suffer from critical limb ischemia, the most advanced stage of PAOD, causing pain, limb ulcers, tissue death, high risk of leg amputation, other cardiovascular diseases, and death.
CLI patients suffer from severe atherothrombosis and inflammation in peripheral arteries, often also in heart, kidney and brain arteries (polyvascular disease).
Diabetes and polyvascular disease are significant risk factors for major adverse limb and cardiovascular events and death in CLI.
There are 7-8 million patients with CLI in the US and Europe.