BUSINESS BASIS
Axiogenesis AG is a public company listed on the German stock exchange and over the last 10 years has established itself as one of the world leaders in stem cell technology. The original work using mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells has now progressed to human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which provide more advantages in understanding human disease states and therapeutic intervention.
The primary focus has centred on developing heart cells that more closely represent cells under normal physiological conditions. These cells have huge potential in the development of innovative new therapies in several major ways: to test the toxic effects of drugs against the heart cells before a new drug is used into man, to identify new drug candidates by screening libraries against normal and cells expressing a certain disease state to identify more accurately the biomarkers associated with disease to enhance patient selection, and improve the drug efficacy/safety profile of therapies use directly in potential cell-based therapies.
The company is generating revenues with its first product CorAt®, a mouse-based cardiomyocyte (heart cell) currently offered to major pharmaceutical companies. In 2011/2012 the company will launch the first human cardiomyocyte product Cor4U® in the market.
Beyond that there are strategies in place to meet most, if not all, of the potential uses listed above by broadening the offering in heart cells but also introducing other important cell lines such as nerve and liver. Business objectives will be achieved through a series of collaborations with pharma/biotech companies and in-house activities. An exclusive distribution and development agreement with Lonza in Q4 2009 adds greater comfort to financial projections.
The existing business underpins Axiogenesis’ ability to deliver break-even in 2010. Acknowledging the company's advancement in further potential stem cell products (i.e. human organ cells) Axiogenesis will be strengthening its drug discovery strategy.
The current market for C&S in the stem cell sector is still in its infancy and the company believes that there is significant market potential based on its experiences to date. The company expects the size of the market for stem cells to increase significantly over the next 5 years. Furthermore the human IPS segment is expected to demonstrate the most dramatic growth and also represent the biggest market segment in stem cells. This is exactly where Axiogenesis will be positioned.
Shareholders
Dürckheim Investment Ltd
Gerlach Beteiligungs GmbH
Dr. Heribert Bohlen
Bohlen GmbH
Dr. Bernd Fleischmann
Fronhoff Beteiligungs GmbH
Kollar & Partner FinanzConsult GmbH
FHC Assets Ltd.
KfW Bankengruppe
Beteiligungsgesellschaft Alstertor mbH
Frankfurt-Trust Investment-Gesellschaft mbH
V+ GmbH & Co. Fonds 2 KG
Free Float