It is developing inhibitors of acute and chronic inflammation, specifically the complement system, the eicosanoid system and the bioamine system.

Molecules are derived from ticks, where 300 million years of evolution has generated molecules which are well tolerated and target the human inflammatory system with exceptionally tight binding.

Akari’s lead drug, Coversin is a second-generation complement inhibitor that acts on complement component-C5, preventing release of C5a and formation of C5b-9 (also known as the membrane attack complex or MAC).

C5 inhibition is growing in importance in a range of rare autoimmune diseases related to dysregulation of the complement component of the immune system, including paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), and Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS).