- Raised funding round, Sep 2024
About
Hepacure Pharma is developing a novel peptide therapy targeting fatty liver diseases, particularly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD encompasses conditions marked by excess fat in the liver, increasing the risk of serious health issues like diabetes and kidney disease. Advanced NAFLD forms, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), lead to inflammation, fibrosis, and, in some cases, incurable carcinoma. Hepacure’s therapy centers on a peptide called Luji, which targets fibrosis and reactivates immune responses in the liver. This peptide blocks key proteins in the fibrosis pathway and reactivates natural killer (NK) cells, enabling them to target hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which contribute to fibrosis. Research highlights Neuroligin-4 (NLGN4X) as a factor in NK cell inhibition, leading to fibrosis progression. Luji modulates the NLGN4-Nrx1β protein interaction, aiming to prevent fibrosis advancement. In preclinical fibrosis mouse models, Luji demonstrated potential by slowing fibrosis progression and reducing liver inflammation and enzyme damage. It is designed for once-weekly injections to treat early-stage fibrosis (F2 stage), with the aim of preventing further liver deterioration in NAFLD patients.
Funding history · 1 round · — total
Q&A
- What is Hepacure's primary focus?
- Hepacure Pharma is developing a novel peptide therapy targeting fatty liver diseases, specifically non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
- When was Hepacure founded?
- Hepacure was founded in July 2024.
- What is the name of the peptide therapy Hepacure is developing?
- Hepacure's therapy centers on a peptide called Luji.
- How does Hepacure's Luji peptide therapy work?
- The Luji peptide targets fibrosis and reactivates immune responses in the liver by blocking key proteins in the fibrosis pathway and reactivating natural killer (NK) cells to target hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). It also modulates the NLGN4-Nrx1β protein interaction.
- What stage of fibrosis is Hepacure's therapy designed to treat?
- The therapy is designed for once-weekly injections to treat early-stage fibrosis (F2 stage).
- Which investor participated in Hepacure's funding round in September 2024?
- NGT HealthCare II participated in Hepacure's funding round in September 2024.
- What is Hepacure's current funding stage?
- Hepacure is currently in the Pre-Seed funding stage.
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Identifiers & details
| Founded | 2024-7 |
|---|---|
| Employees (exact) | 1 |