Our History

Our Team

Our history

Founded in 2014, aptaTargets was spun-out of Aptus Biotech, an aptamer technology platform. aptaTargets started a drug development program collaborating with the Complutense University and the Ramon y Cajal University Hospital.

In 2019 and 2020, aptaTargets conducted the First-in-Human clinical trial in healthy volunteers (NCT04742062). A Phase 1b/2a trial in acute ischemic stroke patients (APRIL study, NCT04734548) was conducted between 2020 and 2022, showing outstanding safety and efficacy results for acute ischemic stroke, including reduced mortality and improved functional recovery. In 2023 ApTOLL was granted a PRIME designation from the European Medicines Agency.

In October 2024 aptaTargets transferred ApTOLL to Merck (announced in May 2025), for its clinical development and commercialization, with aptaTargets providing ongoing transitional support.

aptaTargets raised a Series B round in 2020, from Inveready Asset Management and the CDTI INNVIERTE.

APTATARGETS
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical using aptamer technology for targeting acute indications.
ApTOLL
Lead-candidate (transferred to Merck) is a neuroprotective drug for acute ischemic stroke by targeting inflammation in the acute phase.
Targeting indications
where inflammation causes significant damage, including ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, myocardial infarction, and multiple sclerosis.