3 November, 2025
aptaTargets and Merck have been selected as finalists for the 2025 European Lifestars Awards in the Deal of the Year (<€500 million) category, for their agreement on the transfer of neuroprotective drug ApTOLL.
The European Lifestars Awards are among the most prestigious events in the European life sciences industry, bringing together leading representatives from biopharmaceutical companies and investment funds each year to recognize major achievements across the sector.
The winners of this edition will be announced at the ceremony on November 17 in London. David Segarra and María Eugenia Zarabozo, co-founders of aptaTargets, and David Saxner, Business Development Director of aptaTargets, will attend the event alongside representatives from Merck.
This nomination highlights the scientific and strategic significance of the agreement between aptaTargets and Merck, which includes the transfer of ApTOLL to complete its clinical development and market it globally for patients with ischemic stroke and other disorders of the central nervous system (CNS).
ApTOLL is a first-in-class neuroprotective drug that targets toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) with high specificity, blocking the inflammatory response that occurs after an ischemic stroke. In a phase 1b/2a clinical study published in JAMA Neurology, ApTOLL demonstrated positive safety and efficacy results in acute ischemic stroke, including reduced mortality and improved functional recovery. In 2023, ApTOLL received PRIME designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
This recognition strengthens aptaTargets’ position in the international biopharmaceutical arena and confirms the growing interest in its pioneering approach to developing innovative therapies based on aptamer technology.