A European biotechnology company, Ark Therapeutics was established in July 1997 by Professor John Martin, Mr Stephen Barker and Professor Seppo Yla-Herttuala. Its Finnish arm, Ark Therapeutics Oy, was acquired in 2001. The company has a broad range of products in late stage clinical development. The therapeutic focus is on clear unmet clinical needs within the high value specialist medical areas of vascular disease and cancer. Ark successfully floated on the London Stock Exchange in March 2004.