heqIX Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing heat shock protein (Hsp) modulators for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, with an initial focus on Parkinson's disease. The company's name combines "heat shock" (Hsp) with the Roman numeral IX (nine), reflecting its focus on Hsp90 and the company's mission to protect neurons through protein homeostasis enhancement[1].
The company was founded based on research from Harvard Medical School showing that Hsp90 inhibition can protect neurons from alpha-synuclein toxicity by upregulating the Hsp70 chaperone system and promoting clearance of toxic aggregates.
Heat shock proteins are molecular chaperones that play critical roles in protein folding, quality control, and clearance. In neurodegenerative diseases, the proteostasis network becomes overwhelmed, leading to accumulation of misfolded proteins like alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease[2].
Key findings:
heqIX develops:
| Drug | Mechanism | Phase | Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| HQX-101 | Hsp90 inhibitor | Phase 1 | Parkinson's disease |
| HQX-201 | Hsp70 inducer | Preclinical | Parkinson's disease |
| HQX-301 | Dual Hsp90/70 modulator | Discovery | Multiple System Atrophy |
Phase 1 Results (2024):
heqIX's Hsp90 inhibitors are designed for:
The company uses CSF biomarkers to track target engagement:
| Company | Target | Approach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| heqIX Therapeutics | Hsp90/Hsp70 | Small molecule | Phase 1 |
| Samumed (retired) | Hsp90 | Small molecule | Discontinued |
| Prana Biotechnology | Hsp90 | Small molecule | Discontinued |
| HSF1 Activators | Hsp70 | Gene therapy | Discovery |
heqIX has established partnerships with:
Hsp90 inhibitors in Parkinson's disease: neuroprotection through protein homeostasis. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2021. ↩︎
Blanda J, et al. Hsp90 inhibition protects neurons from alpha-synuclein toxicity. Nat Chem Biol. 2015. ↩︎
Fujita K, et al. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in neurodegeneration. J Neurosci Res. 2018. ↩︎