Oncopeptides was founded in 2000 with the aim to develop better cytotoxic drugs for treatment of cancer. The Oncopeptides group consists of scientists and researchers from Karolinska Institute, Uppsala University and Gothenburg University. Oncopeptides is addressing this unmet medical need by utilizing its proprietary technology to produce “smart” prodrugs of chemotherapeutic agents already approved for the treatment of cancer. Oncopeptides AB has derived a group of efficient tumour-killing prodrugs out of a series of DNA-reactive peptides (DR-peptides). Oncopeptides AB has developed a patented series of novel alkylating oligopeptides with increased activity against a broad spectrum of tumour cell types. The pharmacological basis for the enhanced anti-tumour activity and tumour cell selectivity is an increased intra-cellular concentration of the prodrug secondarily to increased uptake and intra cellular processing of the prodrug. This leads to a higher intracellular concentration and activity of the alkylating oligopeptide in the tumour cells as compared to normal cells. Consequently, these compounds have the potential of a broad application in cancer therapy with increased activity in resistant cells and with fewer side effects. The Company’s lead product, J1, is a smart prodrug of melphalan and has shown promising activity in preclinical and early clinical testing. J1 has a dual mechanism of action; it is both a potent alkylating agent and anti-angiogenesis agent. Oncopeptide has established a strong patent position for it´s candidate drug J1 with 5 patents/patent applications exclusively owned by Company. The Company's patent portfolio protects its products to treat cancer with its molecules or similar in the U.S. Japan, Canada and Europe.