Background

OxyPharma's lead compound B-220 has its origin in anti-viral research conducted by Professor Jan Bergman between 1971 and 1975. In the following years and financed by Kabi - a Swedish pharmaceutical company - Professor Bergman synthesized the substance. Its anti-viral properties were confirmed in collaboration with the Bacteriological Laboratory of Sweden (SBL). Professor Bergman continued his research with funding from Mr. Leif Lundblad and in the second half of the 1990's, B-220 also proved effective in early stage tumor processes (induced tumor promotion model - inflammatory response) and in the preservation of organs for transplantation.

In 1998, based upon results from inflammatory models, studies were initiated to investigate the effect of B-220 in autoimmune disease/inflammatory models for RA, MS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The compound showed promising results, leading to the incorporation of OxyPharma in 2002. A development plan was established, Mr. Ulf Björklund was appointed CEO and OxyPharma secured new funding from Mr. Lundblad through LLD Nybohov Invest.

During 2003 new and more potent analogues of B-220 were identified, resulting in the selection of a first candidate drug (CD) – Rabeximod (Rob 803) - for the treatment of RA in early 2004 and a second CD - Rob 895 - for the treatment of MS in early 2005. Rabeximod has since successfully gone through a phase I study in healthy volunteers and is now evaluated in a phase II trial.