For decades, we’ve known that antimicrobial peptides are potent antimicrobials. Peptides carry a positive electrostatic charge, which naturally attracts the negative charge bacteria carry. Once attached, the knife-like structure of peptides puncture bacterial membranes, killing the cells.
What hasn’t been known—until now—is how to protect vulnerable parts of the peptide from natural enzymes in the human body. In nature, peptides are fragile molecules. Enzymes can destroy them in seconds. To be effective antimicrobials, peptides need protection.
To be antimicrobials, peptides need protection
Amferia solves that problem with an innovative, patented hydrogel platform that binds the peptides in a solid gel, and protecting them.
Amferia’s hydrogel stabilizes and protects the peptides in biological environments. Amferia harnesses peptides in a safe, stable, non-toxic and clinically applicable form, allowing them to be antimicrobial without harming anything else in the body.
Amferia’s proprietary technology consists of amphiphilic antimicrobial polymers that target, rapidly reduce braod spectrum of microbes on the dressing by 99.99% upon contact.
The material is entirely non-toxic to the human and animal body.
Amferia’s approach
1. Antimicrobial peptide binds and physically disrupts bacteria and fungi
2. Highly potent and targets only pathogenic microbes
3. Completely harmless to human and animal cells
4. Does not release any antimicrobials from the hydrogel
Using antimicrobial peptides — mimicking the immune system
The science:
Derived from the mammalian immune system, antimicrobial peptides are powerful molecules that can rapidly and selectively kill bacteria and fungi.
Until today, antimicrobial peptides have had poor stability
These peptides have been present in mammals for millions of years and have a unique way of inhibiting microbial growth by rapidly disrupting the bacteria’s cell membrane through something called electrostatic and amphiphilic interaction. You can think of peptides as a highly specialised soap-like molecule designed to kill bacterial cells by ripping off their skin.
Antimicrobial peptides carry a net-positive charge and a molecular structure that includes hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics. These two factors allow peptides to attract bacterial cells—which carry a net-negative charge and are also amphiphilic—and bind to them, before puncturing their membrane and killing the cell.
Until today, antimicrobial peptides have had poor stability. In the past, their fragility has made antimicrobial peptides challenging for clinical applications. High doses of antimicrobial peptides were needed, which increased costs and prolonged the time-to-market.
As a result, past efforts to develop market-ready products featuring this valuable antimicrobial technology have faced substantial hurdles.
Amferia has solved this problem by implementing a scientifically robust approach that covalently and permanently bind antimicrobial peptides to the surface of a soft, ordered and amphiphilic hydrogel pad.
These permanent bonds protect the vulnerable portion of the peptide molecule and fix them in place, while leaving their antimicrobial mechanism free to inhibit bacterial growth. They also ensure no peptides leak into the wound. Antimicrobial peptides fixed to an underlying hydrogel pad allowed Amferia to develop a safe, efficient and cost-effective design for a wound dressing.
Amferia has solved this problem by permanently binding the peptides to an amphiphilic hydrogel
This design provides the needed balance between stability and activity.
The end-product is a singular material that does not leach or release any peptides or substances into the body, but rather acts locally as a medical device.
Previous antimicrobial peptide technologies utilize peptides in their pristine form, which renders them inactive in a few minutes. Amferia’s innovation enables the bound peptides to remain stable and active for up to five days. Current testing indicates the product we’re developing for wound care will be shelf-stable for up to eighteen months.
Amferia’s technology is born out of years of research performed at Chalmers University of Technology. The concept behind Amferia’s antibacterial properties are enabled by a new material known as amphiphilic antimicrobial hydrogel.
An amphiphilic substance is one that displays both hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics. Comprised of about 70% water, the hydrogel is soft and flexible, making it useful for numerous medical applications.
Amferia’s technology is based on a new material known as amphiphilic antimicrobial hydrogels
The surface of amphiphilic hydrogel consists of antimicrobial peptides that are covalently and permanently bound to the hydrogels amphiphilic structure—forming a single material. The material interacts with bacterial cells and, disrupts the bacterial cell wall rapidly, effectively killing the bacteria.
Testing proves that the amphiphilic antimicrobial hydrogel does not release any substances into the wound or the environment. This material can potentially be configured into antimicrobial products ranging from wound care dressings to antiseptic sprays to mechanically durable devices such as catheters and implants.
To date, analysis confirms that Amferia amphiphilic hydrogel reduces microbial growth by 99.99% which includes gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, and fungi.
It has been proven to be non-toxic to the body as per ISO 10993 biocompatibility evaluations, namely acute toxicity, cytotoxicity, skin sensitisation & irritation, implantation and material mediated pyrogenicity.
Amferia's first product for human wound care has been developed for easy applicability and functionality. More products and broader applications are in the pipeline.
Amferia’s technology verified in scientific papers
Scientific evidence:
The antimicrobial efficacy of Amferia’s technology platform and its safety in lab and animal studies have been verified in numerous pre-clinical studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
The studies describe evidence of Amferia’s technology through fluorescence microscopy against multiple strains of bacteria, including resistant bacteria. An animal infection study demonstrates the real-time effectiveness of Amferia hydrogel in eradicating bacteria from a wound.
In 2022, Amferia’s technology platform was verified in a new form for potential spray-based applications. The base technology was reformulated as small particles that can be sprayed for applications in deep wounds. The results demonstrated excellent reduction of the broad bacterial bio burden including resistant bacteria up to 4 log reduction (or 99.99%) bacterial colonies. This study and others are now published in peer-reviewed scientific journals as listed below.
Pre-clinical studies in peer-reviewed scientific journals
Amferia Recognized on Ny Teknik’s “33-listan” for Second Consecutive Year
November 14, 2024
The significance of being on the list a second time highlights Amferia's continued growth and increasing market potential. It suggests that the company has not only managed to sustain its initial success but has also demonstrated the ability to expand and strengthen its position within the industry. Being recognized again reflects a track record of strong performance, innovation, or strategic decisions that make Amferia a promising company for future growth.
Being recognized a second-time by Ny Teknik’s 33-listan is a significant milestone for Amferia, underscoring our progress in bringing a critical, technology-driven healthcare innovation to market,” stated the Amferia team. “This achievement is also a testament to the collaboration and support from our clinical partners who have recognized the vital role our technology can play in addressing a global healthcare threat.”
Ny Teknik has been recognizing Sweden’s most innovative and promising tech companies through its “33-listan” since 2008.
The Chalmers Impact Award this year goes to the company Amferia, founded by Professor Martin Andersson and his former doctoral students Saba Atefyekta and Anand Kumar Rajasehkaran. After discovering that Anand Kumar Rajasehkaran's research on synthetic bones could be combined with Saba Atefyekta's work on antibacterial peptides, the work began. Together with Martin Andersson's extensive experience in materials research, the team started developing methods to apply the antibacterial substances to various surfaces, such as plasters.
"The aim was to develop new materials that can prevent infections without using antibiotics, thereby reducing the risk of bacteria developing antibiotic resistance," says Martin Andersson.
Chalmers impact award is intended to encourage researchers to actively work with utilization of their research for societal impact and to make these efforts visible within both academia and society in general.
Amferia closes €1,2 million investment to combat resistant bacterial infections
September 6, 2024
Amferia announces the successful completion of its latest investment round, boosting its mission to combat wound infections. During 2024, Amferia has signed important commercial agreements with leading animal health companies in Europe for commercialization of the company’s proprietary technology — a wound dressing for animals that also kills resistant bacteria.
The round was over prescribed and spearheaded by existing owners and new investors. The funding will support the advancement of clinical development within Human Health and further the commercialization of Amferia’s pipeline built on its proprietary platform, designed to protect and utilize antimicrobial peptides to combat bacterial infections. Amferia has already entered the animal health segment and signed commercial agreements with leading animal health companies in Europe such as Orkla Wound Care AB and Biokema SA, to introduce a wound dressing that also kills resistant bacteria.
"Bacterial infections are likely to surpass cancer and heart disease as a number one cause of human deaths in the future, and this is largely due to resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Our hydrogel technology enables the safe and stable use of antimicrobial peptides, allowing them to effectively target bacteria without harming surrounding tissue. Essentially, we are using antimicrobial peptides to mimic the immune system and reduce the unnecessary use for antibiotics," says Anand Rajasekharan, CEO and co-founder of Amferia. “Antibiotics are absolutely essential. Without them, we cannot survive. We aim to support the existing arsenal against bacteria. We need a support system for antibiotics and antimicrobials. Our technology is not about replacing antibiotics but helping healthcare professionals use them more effectively,”
“I am very grateful to our owners for investing in Amferia and in our vision of reducing resistant antimicrobial infections globally. I want to say a big thank you to our existing owners for your continued support as well as welcoming our new investors. We look forward to building the future together.” says Agneta Edberg, chairman of Amferia. “Amferia's first product using our proprietary technology platform is a wound dressing for Animal Health, offering a new solution for treating wounds and preventing infections in veterinary applications. The company aims to launch further products soon, using our platform in Human Health to provide new treatments for patients at risk of skin and wound infections, also resistant, which makes our technology part of the future solutions.”
Antimicrobial peptides are known for their ability to kill bacteria due to their positive electrostatic charge, which attracts the negatively charged bacteria. This allows the peptides to puncture bacterial membranes and destroy the cells. However, their fragility in natural biological environments has been a major challenge, as enzymes in the human body can destroy these peptides within seconds. Amferia’s hydrogel is a flexible solution that can be adapted to applications where killing bacteria is critical—with the added advantage that it kills even resistant bacteria.
Amferia's patented hydrogel platform addresses this challenge by encasing the peptides in a solid gel, keeping them stable. This design protects the peptides from natural enzymes, allowing their bacteria-killing structures to remain active. The hydrogel is applied in wound dressings, meaning it does not have to be ingested, reducing the need for time-consuming clinical trials.
Amferia signs major animal health contract with Biokema and expands into Switzerland
August 26, 2024
Swedish medtech company Amferia, with a mission to combat infections globally, announces the signing of its second commercial agreement. The contract is with the leading Swiss animal health company Biokema SA for commercialization of Amferia’s proprietary wound care technology for Animal Health in Switzerland — a wound dressing for animals that kills bacteria even resistant bacteria.
Anand Rajasekharan, CEO of Amferia — “Biokema’s market leadership in animal health will spearhead Amferia’s vision of reducing antibiotic resistant wound infections in animal health in Switzerland. We are inspired by this partnership, which will bring our innovation together with a leading distributor to a market where there is considerable need for improved and cost effective solutions. Amferia’s innovation has already received strong interest and positive feedback from veterinarians from across Europe, who immediately notice the potential of our new proprietary antimicrobial material within wound and infection management.”
The joint partnership with Biokema will enable Amferia’s technology to reach veterinary patients in Switzerland where wound care and infection prevention is of prime importance. With the growing threat of antibiotic resistant infections globally, Amferia and Biokema’s partnership will build on extensive data collection and feedback from Amferia’s clinical testing across Europe, including Switzerland. The joint efforts aim to market the products starting early 2025.
Dr. Julia Golaz, Commercial Director of Biokema — “ Rapidly providing innovative therapeutic solutions to veterinarians is a priority challenge for Biokema. The partnership with Amferia will allow us to offer to Swiss veterinarians a new technology to reduce antibiotic-resistant wound infections and antibiotic use.
Biokema thus continues to be part of the strategy on antibiotic resistance, essential to sustainably preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics and once again demonstrates its commitment to veterinarians for better care of animals. We are delighted with this partnership with Amferia, based on a shared vision and motivation.”
For more information, please contact: Anand Kumar Rajasekharan, CEO, Amferia AB, anandk@amferia.com, +46 (0) 76 298 12 38.
Dr. Julia Golaz, Commercial Director, Biokema SA, jgolaz@biokema.ch, + 41 (0) 79 815 86 47
About Biokema
Biokema SA, founded in 1959, is a Swiss company specializing in the supply of pharmaceuticals and veterinary products. Entirely owned by Swiss shareholders, Biokema SA focuses on delivering its own brands while also partnering with international leaders in animal nutrition and veterinary medical devices. With a constantly evolving product portfolio, recognized technical expertise, and customer relationships built on a strong history and trust, Biokema SA has established itself as an essential partner in veterinary medicine.
Amferia and Medspray awarded Eurostars Grant to develop Antimicrobial Spray for wound care
March 26, 2024
Amferia, specializing in antimicrobial peptide-hydrogel materials, and Medspray, a spray nozzle company renowned for its expertise in micro droplet spray technology, announce our joint success in securing a Eureka Eurostars grant. This grant will support our collaborative efforts to develop an advanced antimicrobial spray for wound care.
“With the growing need for new antimicrobial technologies to address bacterial infections, Amferia’s spray will be an important tool to fight life-threatening bacterial infections in skin and woundcare. The Eurostars funding is an important enabler for Amferia to accelerate the spray product development. We are inspired by the partnership with Medspray whose state-of-the-art microdroplet spray technology will be a key success factor for delivering the Amferia technology to patients in need across the globe ” -Anand Rajasekharan, CEO of Amferia.
The Eurostars program, dedicated to fostering collaborative research and development projects among SMEs across Europe, has awarded this prestigious grant to Sweden based Amferia AB and Netherlands based Medspray BV. This partnership underscores the shared commitment of both companies to leverage cutting-edge technologies and expertise to address a pressing healthcare challenge namely antimicrobial resistance.
Titled SURPAS (Treatment of SURgical wounds with a novel, innovative Peptide-hydrogel Antimicrobial wound Spray ), this project will focus on developing the spray, initially for surgical wound care with the ambition of infection prevention. The antimicrobial spray will harness the potent antimicrobial properties of peptide materials, offering a safe and targeted approach to preventing infections in wound care settings. Coupled with Medspray’s expertise in precision spray technology, the solution aims to deliver the peptide-hydrogel as micro droplet spray with optimal coverage and penetration, ensuring rapid and effective antimicrobial action without disturbing wound healing.
Han van Egmond, CEO of Medspray — “The combination of a low energy actuated, slow moving, fine mist combined with an antimicrobial peptide hydrogel, offers a potential solution for the fast growing antimicrobial resistance of bacteria, thereby contributing to patient comfort and reducing the related treatment costs.”
The Eurostars grant provides a significant boost to the collaborative efforts of Amferia and Medspray, enabling them to accelerate the development of their innovative antimicrobial spray for wound care. Beyond financial support, the grant opens doors to collaborative opportunities, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships within the European innovation ecosystem.
About Amferia
Amferia has developed a technology that kills 99,99% of bacteria, even resistant bacteria, without harming the body. The innovation is based on amphiphilic hydrogel with increased clinical stability, a material created after years of research in collaboration with Chalmers University ofTechnology in Sweden. Amferia’s first product offer is a wound-care dressing suitable for dry-to-low exuding wounds. The company’s anti-microbial platform solution can also be used on a wide range of wound care products, addressing antimicrobial solutions from minor skin injuries and post-operative wounds to chronic wounds, trauma, and burn wounds. Read more about the products, team, technology and publications at www.amferia.com
About Medspray
Medspray is a privately owned company in Enschede, theNetherlands. With its 40 employees Medspray focuses on the development and manufacturing of micro spray nozzles which creates an ultra-soft mist. Medspray’s slogan is: ‘tiny technology for a sustainable future.’ Medspray aims to contribute to a sustainable world by developing innovative spray nozzles for user-friendly health and physical care products. The applications for the Medspray ranges from soft mist inhalation products that will require small and slow moving droplets up to target the lungs, as well as to the Beauty, Home andPersonal care segments like fine fragrance sprays where larger droplets or aerosols are required. www.medspray.com
About Eurostars
Eurostars is a European funding program dedicated to supporting collaborative R&D projects led by SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) across Europe. By fostering innovation, collaboration, and cross-border partnerships, Eurostars aims to drive economic growth, strengthen competitiveness, and promote technological advancement within the European innovation ecosystem.
Han van Egmond, CEO, Medspray BV, han@medspray.com, +31 6 51 74 60 26
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Dr. Christian Nees joins as Clinical Advisor for Amferia's Animal Wound Care
February 19, 2024
Amferia AB welcomes Dr. Christian Nees, veterinary surgeon and wound specialist, as Clinical Advisor for Animal Wound Care.
Dr. Nees is a veterinary surgeon with 35 years of experience in surgery and wound care. He was previously the head of Animal Health Hospital in Weingarten (Kleintierzentrum Weingarten), Germany. Today, he coaches colleagues and wound care specialists in veterinary care. A leading voice in animal health in Germany, Dr. Nees built and led Kleintierzentrum Weingarten as one of the best hospitals for small animals in Germany. Dr. Nees will support and advise the Animal Health team at Amferia with medical and clinical affairs and clinical testing for further development and strengthening of Amferia’s portfolio of Animal wound care products.
Anand Kumar Rajasekharan, CEO of Amferia− “It is a true honour to welcome Dr. Nees as an Advisor to Amferia. Amferia has had the privilege of collaborating with Dr. Nees on clincal testing over the last 4 years and his guidance has been important for our product development. We now look forward to jointly enable good products for addressing wound care in animal health.
Amferia AB signs major contract with Orkla Wound Care
December 4, 2023
Amferia has recently signed an exclusive Animal Health Private Label License and Purchase Agreement with Orkla Wound Care covering the Nordic region, Germany, Spain and Portugal for a period of 3 years with a possibility for extension.
Anand Rajasekharan, CEO of Amferia — “Orkla Wound Care’s market leadership in wound care will spearhead Amferia’s vision of addressing antibiotic resistant wound infections in animal health. We are inspired by this partnership, which will bring our innovation together with a leading brand to a market where there is considerable need for new solutions. Amferia’s innovation has already received strong interest and positive feedback from veterinarians from across Europe, who immediately notice the potential of our new antimicrobial material within wound and infection management.”
The joint partnership with Orkla Wound Care will enable Amferia’s technology, through Orkla leading brand Snögg Animal Care, to reach the wider European veterinary market where wound care and infection prevention is of prime importance. This has been intensified with the growing threat of antibiotic resistant infections. Amferia and Orkla Wound Care’s partnership will build on extensive data and feedback from Amferia’s clinical testing across Europe. The joint efforts will aim to market the products under the brand Snögg Animal Care from 2024.
Maria Lundman Hedberg, CEO of Orkla Wound Care— “We are excited about our collaboration with Amferia and bringing their innovative products to market under the brand Snögg Animal Care. Amferia's pioneering antimicrobial wound dressing aligns seamlessly with our dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions to veterinarians through our Snögg Animal Care range. This collaboration strengthens our position as a leader in wound care, both for humans and animals.
About Amferia
Amferia's antimicrobial amphiphilic hydrogel kills bacteria, even resistant bacteria without harming the body. The material was developed through several years of research in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology and the first product from this technology platform is a wound-care dressing for dry-to-low exuding wounds. Amferia's innovative, anti-microbial solution can be used on wide-ranging wounds from simple skin injuries, post-operative wounds to chronic wounds and trauma / burn wounds. The WHO predicts that antibiotic-resistant infections, including those from wounds could become one of the leading causes of both illness and death over the next ten years. The material is being investigated for continuous development in several other areas, including sprays for deep wounds, and coatings for implants and a variety of catheters. Read more about the products, team, technology and publications at www.amferia.com
About Orkla Wound Care
Orkla Wound Care has a long tradition of developing, manufacturing and distributing market leading products within wound care and first aid. Orkla Wound Care is a part of the Orkla group, a public listed company on the Norwegian Stock Exchange, known for its active portfolio management targeting fast-growing consumer segments and markets.
Amferia AB is happy to announce the appointment of Ingvar Karlsson as the Chief Financial Officer. Ingvar has extensive background in financial management within a broad area including the life-science industry.
Ingvar has a solid background as the CFO from both public and private companies covering Life science and Medtech, Automotive and premium consumer goods spanning over 40 years. Today, he works both on the Board of cutting-edge life-science SME’s as well as provide service as CFO for their successful growth. Ingvar’s extensive knowledge in financial management, supply chain processes and capital planning of life science companies, will be important for Amferia’s scale-up journey in both human and animal wound care.
Anand Kumar Rajasekharan, CEO of Amferia − “It is an honour to work with Ingvar, whose impressive knowledge of the field and guidance greatly strengthens Amferia’s position as a competent and cutting-edge SME with precision in its numbers. We look forward to jointly grow the company, as we set our sights on global growth of Amferia both in human and animal wound care.
Ingvar Karlsson, CFO of Amferia − “I look forward working with the team at Amferia. The company has a very interesting journey ahead. Amferia is en route towards internationalization and distribution of its products through partnerships in multiple countries. I am glad to work with companies like Amferia improving healthcare for both humans and animals. ”
Amferia selected as one of Sweden’s best, young deep technology companies by Ny Teknik’s prestigious 33-listan
November 20, 2023
The significance of the list is that Amferia, as one among the 33 young Swedish companies is deemed to have high potential to become future growth companies. The companies selected to be on the list after rigorous evaluation by the jury, are judged to be innovative, have scalable business models and have the potential to grow quickly on the Swedish and global market.
Infections are a difficult healthcare problem, exacerbated by antibiotic resistance. Amferia’s innovative antimicrobial material is an effective, safe and sustainable way to address life threatening bacterial infections, especially within the filed of medical devices. This is equally important in both human and animal health, and we are bringing products built on our technology rapidly to the market.
The recognition by Nyteknik is an important achievement for Amferia attesting to our measured yet rapid progress of a deep technology breakthrough innovation to the clinic. And most importantly, our deepest gratitude to our collaborators in the clinics who clearly saw the need and importance of our technology in addressing an acute global healthcare threat.
Our colleague Edvin Blomstrand now holds a PhD in Materials Science from Chalmers
September 26, 2023
Amferia is thrilled to announce that our exceptional Research Engineer, Edvin Blomstrand, has successfully defended his doctoral thesis titled "Amphiphilic Hydrogels Functionalized with Antimicrobial Peptides for Wound Care" at Chalmers tekniska högskola. He now proudly holds the esteemed title of Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science. During his PhD journey, Edvin's contributions have played a pivotal role in shaping our product development at Amferia. We couldn't be more excited to have him continue this remarkable journey with us. With him on board, we are prepared more than ever to pursue our goals, push the boundaries of innovation, and make a meaningful impact in our field.
Join us in congratulating Dr. Blomstrand on this brilliant achievement, and we look forward to the amazing things to accomplish together in the future!
