Pleiogenix is a biopharma startup developing treatments for liver diseases as well as Covid-19 and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which recently took part in the INVEST Pitch Perfect contest and emerged victorious in the biopharma track. In this Q&A, CEO and Co-founder Joseph Evans talks about the company’s approach.
Joseph Evans, Pleiogenix CEO
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Why did you start this company?
To develop safe and effective treatments for diseases with unmet medical needs
What specific need/problem are you seeking to address in healthcare?
Pleiogenix is a clinical-stage bio-pharmaceutical company that will develop safe and effective treatments for liver and other diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The initial diseases that Pleiogenix is targeting are acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH), COVID-19, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) / Fibrosis, with additional diseases to follow. AAH is a deadly liver disease resulting in mortality in most patients within 6 months, in the absence of a liver transplant. NASH is a severe form of the chronic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The AAH market is estimated to be $575 million by 2023, while the NASH market is estimated to be $35-40 billion by 2025. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection; there have been over 10 million cases resulting in ~500,000 deaths (globally).
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What does your product do? How does it work?
Pleiogenix has identified a Phase 2A-ready drug candidate, PLG888, an orally available, pan-PPAR agonist (non-thiazolidinedione) that increases circulating adiponectin without eliciting body weight gain or edema. Adiponectin is a hormone possessing significant anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and metabolic clinical benefits. In patients suffering from AAH, NASH, and COVID-19, inflammation is severely increased, and adiponectin is reduced in patients with NASH. Increased adiponectin is linked to decreased systemic inflammation, increased hepatic fat oxidation, decreased hepatic fibrosis, and amelioration of NASH. Thus, PLG888 has the potential to become the first prescription pharmaceutical for AAH, NASH / fibrosis, and/or COVID-19.
Is this your first healthcare startup? What’s your background in healthcare?
No. All of the four co-founders have previously co-founded healthcare startups. We all have extensive experience in positions of increasing responsibility in biotech / pharmaceutical companies
What is your company’s business model?
Pleiogenix in-licenses clinical stage technology and develops it through Phase 3 (or Phase 2, depending on indication), and then out-licenses turn-key opportunities for commercialization
Who is your customer? How do you generate revenue?
Pleiogenix will license its technology after Phase 3 to a commercialization partner. Pleiogenix will gain revenues through licensing fees, milestone payments, and royalties on product sales
Do you have clinical validation for your product?
Yes.
At what stage of development is your lead product?
Our lead product in Phase 2 ready.
Photo: Yuri_Arcurs, Getty Images
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