Core Points - BioArctic AB's founders and CEO have been awarded Uppsala University's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Prize for their contributions to addressing Alzheimer's disease [1][2][8] - The prize recognizes their groundbreaking research and successful commercialization of an academic discovery into an approved drug, lecanemab, which has the potential to significantly impact millions of lives [2][8] Company Overview - BioArctic AB is a Swedish biopharma company focused on innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease [11] - The company is known for developing Leqembi® (lecanemab), the first drug proven to slow the progression of early Alzheimer's disease and reduce cognitive impairment [11] - BioArctic collaborates with Eisai, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, to develop lecanemab and is actively pursuing approvals in multiple countries [6][11] Founders' Vision - The founders, Lars Lannfelt and Pär Gellerfors, aimed to establish BioArctic as a significant pharmaceutical company in Sweden, revitalizing the country's pharmaceutical industry [5] - Lars Lannfelt's research in the 1990s laid the foundation for the development of an antibody to combat Alzheimer's disease, leading to the establishment of BioArctic in 2003 [4][5] Drug Development and Approval - Lecanemab is currently approved in eleven countries, including the USA, Japan, and China, with additional approvals pending in 17 regions, including Europe [6] - The drug represents a significant advancement in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, with the potential to change the lives of millions [2][11]
Lars Lannfelt, Pär Gellerfors, and Gunilla Osswald awarded Uppsala University's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Prize