What Sitryx Therapeutics does

Sitryx Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2018 and headquartered at The Oxford Science Park in Oxford, UK, with additional offices in Boston, MA and New Jersey, USA. The company develops oral small molecule therapeutics that target immunometabolic pathways in immune cells, with the aim of delivering disease-modifying treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, asthma, and ulcerative colitis. Its pipeline includes lead candidate SYX-5219 (a first-in-class oral PKM2 modulator currently in Phase 1b for atopic dermatitis), SYX-1042 (an oral itaconate mimetic for psoriasis, Phase 1 complete and rights regained from Lilly), SIT-052 (oral GLS1 inhibitor for asthma, development candidate), SIT-047 (oral MTHFD2 inhibitor for psoriatic arthritis), and SIT-033 (preclinical SIK2 inhibitor for ulcerative colitis). The platform is grounded in immunometabolism research by six scientific founders with over 1,000 published papers in the field.

The company operates a licensing and partnership-driven business model rather than building its own commercial sales force. Revenue is generated exclusively through upfront payments, development and commercial milestones, and tiered royalties from pharmaceutical partners; principal agreements include a 2020 Eli Lilly collaboration worth up to $1.1B in potential milestones (which returned SYX-1042 to Sitryx in August 2025) and a February 2026 exclusive global licensing deal with Boehringer Ingelheim for a preclinical program worth over $500M in potential upfront and milestone payments plus royalties. Sitryx is supported by an international investor syndicate including SV Health Investors, Sofinnova Partners, Oxford Science Enterprises, Longwood Fund, Eli Lilly, and GSK, and runs a semi-virtual R&D model using purpose-built Oxford laboratories complemented by national and international CROs.

Go-to-market is event-driven and enterprise-focused: Sitryx presents at major scientific conferences (ACR, SID, EADV) and healthcare investor conferences (J.P. Morgan, Jefferies, Evercore, Oppenheimer, Piper Sandler, RBC), issues press releases for clinical and corporate milestones, and licenses commercialization rights to pharma partners. The company employs approximately 50 people and has raised approximately $85M in equity to date, with current annualized revenue classified as pre-revenue from product sales.

Name

Sitryx Therapeutics

Legal name

Sitryx Therapeutics

Website

https://sitryx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sitryx Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing oral small molecule therapeutics that target immunometabolic pathways to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, with a pipeline led by SYX-5219 in Phase 1b for atopic dermatitis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immunometabolic Therapeutics

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Psoriasis & Eczema Specialty Care (HLAKACAL)

Keywords

• Immunometabolic therapeutics
• Oral small molecules
• Autoimmune disease drugs
• Inflammatory disease therapeutics
• Precision immunology

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Pre-revenue company developing oral therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Revenue will be generated through commercialization of proprietary drug candidates upon regulatory approval
2. Licensing and Royalty Revenue: Partnership deals with Boehringer Ingelheim ($500M+ potential) and Eli Lilly (up to $1.1B potential) generating upfront payments, milestone payments, and tiered royalties on future sales

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sitryx Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class oral small molecule therapeutics that target immunometabolic pathways to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Its pipeline includes SYX-5219 (PKM2 modulator for atopic dermatitis), SYX-1042 (itaconate mimetic for psoriasis), SIT-052 (GLS1 inhibitor for asthma), SIT-047 (MTHFD2 inhibitor for psoriatic arthritis), and SIT-033 (SIK2 inhibitor for ulcerative colitis). The company licenses its programs to global pharmaceutical partners (Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly) for clinical development and commercialization while retaining research responsibility.

Product overview

Sitryx Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of oral small molecule therapeutics targeting immunometabolic pathways. The company's pipeline includes multiple clinical and preclinical programs: lead program SYX-5219 (PKM2 modulator for atopic dermatitis, Phase 1b), SYX-1042 (itaconate mimetic for psoriasis, Phase 1 complete), SIT-052 (GLS1 inhibitor for asthma), SIT-047 (MTHFD2 inhibitor for psoriatic arthritis), and SIT-033 (SIK2 inhibitor for ulcerative colitis). These programs leverage the company's immunometabolism platform to target metabolic pathways in immune cells and drive sustained disease remission in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SYX-5219 First-in-class oral pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) modulator in Phase 1b clinical development for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Modulates PKM2 to alter T lymphocyte and mast cell function, offering anti-itch and pro-barrier repair effects to drive sustained disease remission. Phase 1a demonstrated safety, tolerability, predictable pharmacokinetics, and dose-dependent reduction in serum CCL17/TARC biomarker levels comparable to established IL-4/IL-13 biologics. FDA cleared the IND in October 2025; Phase 1b enrollment completed in June 2026 with 50 adult patients.
• SYX-1042 Novel oral itaconate mimetic that mimics endogenous itaconate, a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory metabolite produced by activated macrophages. Phase 1 clinical trial completed under Eli Lilly collaboration; rights returned to Sitryx in August 2025 following Lilly's portfolio reprioritization. Being developed for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
• SIT-052 Oral glutaminase-1 (GLS1) inhibitor nominated as development candidate in 2026 for moderate to severe allergic asthma. Attenuates autoimmune responses by modulating dendritic cell-driven T cell responses, reducing smooth muscle and fibroblast proliferation, addressing both inflammation and tissue remodeling. Demonstrated robust efficacy in preclinical disease models with potential for biologic-like efficacy from oral small molecule format.
• SIT-047 Oral MTHFD2 (methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2) inhibitor nominated as clinical development candidate in May 2025 for psoriatic arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Targets one-carbon metabolism in immune cells to regulate Th1 and Th17 immune cell subsets driving autoimmune pathology. Preclinical data showed reduced proliferation of B and CD4+ T cells while preserving cell viability.
• SIT-033 SIK2 (salt-inducible kinase 2) preclinical inhibitor program for ulcerative colitis. Selectively targets isozymes to maximize efficacy and therapeutic index, offering potential for sustained disease remission with improved safety profile.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase 1a trial demonstrated SYX-5219 was safe and well tolerated with predictable pharmacokinetics and robust target engagement; dose-dependent reduction in serum CCL17/TARC levels (biomarker of type 2 inflammation) comparable to established IL-4/IL-13 biologics
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Boehringer IngelheimcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Exclusive global licensing agreement where Boehringer acquired rights to Sitryx's preclinical small molecule program targeting autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Boehringer assumes full responsibility for clinical development and commercialization. Sitryx eligible for upfront, milestone payments totaling over $500 million plus tiered royalties on future sales.
• Eli Lilly and CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2020Exclusive global licensing and research collaboration formed in 2020 worth up to $1.1 billion in potential milestones and royalties. Lilly paid $50 million upfront and $10 million equity investment. Lilly commenced Phase 1 study of SYX-1042 (itaconate mimetic) in January 2024. Lilly returned SYX-1042 rights to Sitryx in August 2025 following portfolio reprioritization.
• Cancer Research UKsupportingTechnology or IntegrationLicensed exclusive worldwide intellectual property rights for inhibitors of a new target in immunometabolism from Cancer Research UK in July 2021
• Alan Irvine (Trinity College Dublin)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor of Dermatology at Trinity College Dublin and President of International Eczema Council serving as Principal Investigator for SYX-5219 clinical trials

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Arcutis Biotherapeutics: Arcutis is a clinical-stage dermatology-focused biotech developing oral and topical small molecule therapies (e.g., roflumilast/zoryve) for inflammatory skin diseases including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. It directly parallels Sitryx's lead indication focus and oral small molecule approach in dermatology.
• Ventyx Biosciences: Ventyx is a clinical-stage immunology biotech developing oral small molecules (TYK2, S1P1, NLRP3 inhibitors) for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases including psoriasis and ulcerative colitis. Direct overlap with Sitryx's oral small molecule autoimmune strategy and indication mix (UC, psoriasis).
• Aclaris Therapeutics: Aclaris is a clinical-stage biopharma developing oral small molecule immunomodulators (e.g., zunsemetinib/ATI-450) for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, with strong dermatology and immuno-inflammatory focus paralleling Sitryx's pipeline strategy.
• Morphic Therapeutic: Morphic is a clinical-stage biotech developing oral integrin inhibitors for autoimmune diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (UC, Crohn's) and pulmonary hypertension. Strong overlap with Sitryx's oral small molecule approach in ulcerative colitis and autoimmune indications.
• AnaptysBio: AnaptysBio is a clinical-stage immunology biotech developing therapeutics for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including atopic dermatitis and ulcerative colitis. While AnaptysBio is more antibody-focused, it directly competes in Sitryx's target indications with overlapping scientific positioning.
• Pliant Therapeutics: Pliant is a clinical-stage biotech developing oral small molecule integrin inhibitors (Bexotegrast) for fibrosis and inflammatory diseases. Shares the oral small molecule autoimmune/inflammatory positioning, with similar clinical-stage profile and partnership-driven business model.

Broad incumbents

• AbbVie: AbbVie is a global immunology leader with Rinvoq (JAK inhibitor) and Skyrizi (IL-23) competing directly in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis — Sitryx's core indications. AbbVie represents the incumbent commercial scale Sitryx is ultimately seeking to disrupt or partner with.
• Incyte Corporation: Incyte develops ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura), approved for atopic dermatitis and vitiligo, representing direct competition to Sitryx's lead indication via oral/topical JAK inhibition. Incyte's commercial JAK franchise in dermatology establishes the bar Sitryx must clear in efficacy and safety.
• Pfizer: Pfizer's Cibinqo (abrocitinib, JAK inhibitor) is approved for atopic dermatitis and directly competes with Sitryx's SYX-5219 lead program. Pfizer is also an experienced immunometabolism investor and strategic partner archetype relevant to Sitryx's BD model.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb: BMS markets Zeposia (S1P modulator) and is developing multiple immunology assets in psoriasis, UC, and other autoimmune indications overlapping Sitryx's pipeline. BMS's Sotyktu (TYK2) and broader immunology pipeline represent competitive threats and potential acquirer archetype.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sitryx Therapeutics