Hepanova

What Hepanova does

Hepanova Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class therapeutics for chronic liver disease and inflammation. The company was founded by Frank Q. Li (MD, PhD) and T. Jake Liang (MD, a NIH Distinguished Investigator and past president of AASLD), with roots in NIH- and Harvard-derived research stretching back approximately 16 years. Hepanova is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and operates a regional office in Shanghai, China, with a headcount of 11-50 employees and a Scientific Advisory Board that includes 2013 Nobel laureate Randy W. Schekman.

The company's core technology is an IKKα/β inhibitor platform that targets the IKK/NF-κB pathway — an upstream mechanism simultaneously addressing steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. The lead clinical candidate, HPN-01, is described as the only first-in-class, oral, long-acting, highly selective IKKα/β inhibitor, designed for once-weekly dosing and positioned primarily for MASH patients with advanced fibrosis (F2-F4), with secondary development planned in inflammatory bowel disease (UC/CD), HCC prevention, MetALD, and autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases. HPN-01 completed a U.S. Phase 1 trial demonstrating safety and pharmacokinetics supportive of chronic use. The pipeline additionally includes HPN-102, a GalNAc siRNA program for MASH with fibrosis, and HPN-205, an integrin antagonist for fibrosis, both in discovery stage.

Hepanova's business model is that of a privately held, venture-backed pre-revenue biopharmaceutical company. Approximately $10.2 million has been raised across five funding rounds from 2018 to 2023, with disclosed venture participation from Shenzhen Capital Group (lead) and Pudong Innotek, and xNova VC appearing in the company's branding. The company has no commercialized products, no disclosed pricing, and no public licensing or co-promotion agreements; management indicates that distribution will rely on pharmaceutical distribution channels and potential licensing or co-promotion partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies upon regulatory approval. The company is positioned for capital-efficient, multi-indication expansion by leveraging cross-usable Phase 1 clinical and translational data across indications.

Name

Hepanova

Legal name

Hepanova Inc

Website

https://hepanova.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hepanova is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class oral IKKα/β inhibitor therapies, led by HPN-01 for MASH with advanced fibrosis and expansion into IBD and other inflammatory liver diseases, founded on NIH- and Harvard-derived research and based in Gaithersburg, MD.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Liver Disease Therapeutics

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAIAAAI

Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Branded (Innovator) Pharmaceuticals

SECONDARYHLAAAIAA

High-Throughput Screening & Assay Platforms (HTS/HCS, phenotypic screening)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Biologic Drug Discovery Platforms (screening, antibody engineering, synthetic biology)

SECONDARYHLAIAIAL

Rare Gastroenterology & Hepatology Disorder Therapies

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Orphan & Rare Disease Pharmaceuticals

Keywords

• Liver disease therapeutics
• MASH fibrosis treatment
• IKK inhibitor drugs
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Hepatology drug development

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaithersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hepanova is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class therapeutics for chronic liver disease and inflammation. Its lead candidate, HPN-01, is the only first-in-class, oral, long-acting, highly selective IKKα/β inhibitor designed for chronic liver disease, targeting MASH patients with advanced fibrosis (F2–F4) with once-weekly oral dosing. The portfolio also includes pipeline programs HPN-102 (GalNAc siRNA) and HPN-205 (integrin antagonist) for fibrosis and related inflammatory indications.

Product overview

Hepanova is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class therapeutics for chronic liver disease and inflammation. The company's portfolio centers on its lead program HPN-01, an oral, long-acting IKKα/β inhibitor for MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) with advanced fibrosis, along with pipeline programs HPN-102 (GalNAc siRNA) and HPN-205 (integrin antagonist). The technology platform integrates proprietary discovery, medicinal chemistry, and clinical execution capabilities derived from NIH and Harvard research to create differentiated small molecule therapies targeting upstream inflammatory and fibrotic drivers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HPN-01 HPN-01 is Hepanova's lead clinical candidate and the only first-in-class, oral, long-acting, highly selective IKKα/β inhibitor designed for chronic liver disease and inflammation. It addresses steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis through an upstream IKK/NF-κB mechanism and is designed for MASH patients with advanced fibrosis (F2–F4) with once-weekly oral dosing. It also shows strong preclinical activity in IBD and is combination-ready with GLP-1 agonists and other standards of care.
• HPN-102 HPN-102 is a GalNAc-conjugated siRNA therapeutic program in the discovery stage targeting MASH with fibrosis (F2–F3). It leverages GalNAc-mediated hepatic delivery to selectively silence disease-driving genes in the liver.
• HPN-205 HPN-205 is an integrin antagonist program in the discovery stage targeting fibrosis, expanding Hepanova's anti-fibrotic pipeline beyond the IKK/NF-κB mechanism of HPN-01.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 89bio: 89bio is developing pegozafermin, an FGF21 analog for MASH with advanced fibrosis (F2-F3). It directly competes in Hepanova's primary indication and is also named in Hepanova's CMO's advisory portfolio, indicating close competitive monitoring.
• Akero Therapeutics: Akero is developing efruxifermin (FGF21 Fc-fusion) for MASH with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. It represents one of the most advanced FGF21-class competitors targeting the same patient population as HPN-01.
• Madrigal Pharmaceuticals: Madrigal developed Rezdiffra (resmetirone), the first FDA-approved therapy for MASH with moderate-to-advanced fibrosis. It is the most direct peer for Hepanova's MASH with advanced fibrosis strategy, competing for the same patient population with F2-F4 staging.
• Viking Therapeutics: Viking is developing VK2735 (GLP-1/GIP dual agonist) and other metabolic candidates with MASH potential. It competes in the broader MASH/metabolic liver disease space that Hepanova targets, particularly given Hepanova's combination-ready positioning.
• Inventiva: Inventiva is developing lanifibranor, a pan-PPAR agonist for MASH with advanced fibrosis. It is a direct competitor in the same F2-F4 patient population targeted by HPN-01.
• Terns Pharmaceuticals: Terns is developing TERN-501 (THR-β agonist) and combination strategies for MASH. As a clinical-stage MASH company also named in Hepanova's CMO advisory portfolio, it represents a closely comparable peer in stage and indication focus.
• NGM Bio: NGM Bio has developed aldafermin and other MASH candidates targeting FGF19/21 pathways and inflammation. It is comparable as a clinical-stage liver disease biotech pursuing differentiated mechanisms in the MASH/fibrosis space.
• Intercept Pharmaceuticals: Intercept developed obeticholic acid for liver disease and has extensive experience in chronic liver disease drug development. Despite commercial challenges, it remains a relevant peer in advanced liver fibrosis therapeutics and PBC.
• Galmed Pharmaceuticals: Galmed developed Aramchol for MASH and has focused exclusively on liver disease therapeutics. It is comparable to Hepanova as a smaller clinical-stage company dedicated to chronic liver disease drug development.

Broad incumbents

• Boehringer Ingelheim: BI is advancing survodutide (GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist) for MASH, alongside broader liver disease programs and a large cardiometabolic franchise. As a broad incumbent with GLP-1 capability, it is a likely combination partner and competitor to Hepanova.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hepanova-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Hepanova