Halo Biosciences

What Halo Biosciences does

Halo Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class, disease-modifying therapies for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, with its lead program focused on pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, the company operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees and a consulting executive structure spanning CSO, CMO, and COO roles.

The company's core technology targets the synthesis of hyaluronan (HA), a structural and signaling component of the extracellular matrix whose dysregulated accumulation drives inflammation, fibrosis, and vascular remodeling. Its lead asset, HB-1614, is a proprietary reformulation of 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), a well-characterized HA synthesis inhibitor. The platform is supported by Phase 2a SATURN Study (NCT05128929) data showing clinically meaningful improvements in 6MWD, FVC, and quality-of-life measures in PH-ILD patients, alongside four investigator-sponsored studies conducted with Stanford University and the NIH and peer-reviewed publications in Thorax, JCI, Cells, and Matrix Biology. A secondary program is being advanced in primary sclerosing cholangitis, and an earlier product form, H01, is a commercially available form of 4-MU.

Halo Biosciences is pre-revenue and does not yet commercialize products. Its business model centers on advancing HB-1614 and pipeline candidates through clinical development, pursuing regulatory approval (with first- and best-in-class positioning in Group 3 PH), and ultimately commercializing through traditional pharmaceutical channels such as specialty pharmacies and hospital formularies, potentially in partnership with larger pharmaceutical companies. Scientific cofounders Paul Bollyky (Stanford Professor) and Nadine Nagy (Stanford Scientist) anchor the research lineage, while a broader advisor network spans pulmonary hypertension specialists from Stanford and PK/PD, preclinical, and corporate development expertise.

Name

Halo Biosciences

Legal name

Halo Biosciences Inc

Website

https://halobiosciences.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Halo Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class, disease-modifying therapies based on hyaluronan synthesis inhibition (4-methylumbelliferone reformulation HB-1614) for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, with its lead indication being pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pulmonary Hypertension & Interstitial Lung Disease Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Pulmonary Hypertension & Rare Pulmonary Disease Therapies (HLAIAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pulmonology & Allergy Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAF)

Keywords

• Hyaluronan synthesis inhibitors
• Pulmonary hypertension therapeutics
• Fibrotic disease treatments
• Clinical-stage biopharmaceuticals
• Extracellular matrix modulators

Headquarters

HQ city

Stanford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization: As a clinical-stage biotechnology company, Halo Biosciences is in the development phase with no current revenue. The company is developing first-in-class, disease-modifying therapies targeting inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Revenue generation is anticipated upon regulatory approval and commercialization of HB-1614 and other pipeline candidates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Halo Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing disease-modifying therapies that target hyaluronan (HA) synthesis to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Its lead clinical candidate HB-1614 is a proprietary reformulation of 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) being advanced for pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD / Group 3 PH). The company also advances H01, a commercially available form of 4-MU, and earlier-stage programs in primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Product overview

Halo Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class, disease-modifying therapies for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. The company's pipeline centers on targeting hyaluronan (HA), a key component of the extracellular matrix. The lead product candidate HB-1614 is a proprietary reformulation of 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) for pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease. Additionally, H01 is a commercially available form of 4-MU. The company leverages its research on 4-MU to suppress inflammatory responses and restore healthier tissue metabolism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HB-1614 A proprietary reformulation of 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), a hyaluronan-synthesis inhibitor with potential to be a first- and best-in-class HA remodeling agent for the treatment of Group 3 pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). Designed to address inflammation, fibrosis, and vascular remodeling associated with disease progression in patients with median survival of 2-5 years.
• H01 A commercially available form of 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) advanced through multiple Halo Biosciences clinical programs targeting hyaluronan synthesis inhibition across inflammatory and fibrotic indications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clinically meaningful improvements in 6MWD (6-minute walk distance), FVC, and Quality of Life Instruments observed in PH-ILD cohort in Phase 2a study
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Stanford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStanford University serves as a key collaborator for Halo Biosciences, conducting the SATURN Study (NCT05128929) Phase 2a clinical study of 4-MU in patients with pulmonary hypertension. The partnership includes four investigator-sponsored studies and connection to Stanford's ecosystem of drug discovery. Scientific cofounders Paul Bolyky (MD, PhD, Stanford University Professor) and Nadine Nagy (PhD, Stanford Scientist) are affiliated with Stanford.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Institutes of Health has partnered with Halo Biosciences on investigator-sponsored studies investigating 4-MU therapy across multiple indications including pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BridgeBio Pharma: BridgeBio's affiliate Aer Therapeutics focused on pulmonary indications (formerly Acceleron-era assets), and BridgeBio has developed therapies for genetic and rare diseases. Its PH/ILD-adjacent R&D efforts make it a comparable specialty biotech.
• Galapagos NV: Galapagos has multiple fibrosis and inflammation programs including ziritaxestat. As a larger biopharma with fibrosis R&D infrastructure, it represents a comparable fibrosis-focused therapeutic developer with broader resources.
• Insmed: Insmed is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with a pulmonary and inflammatory disease focus (e.g., ARIKAYCE for lung infections). Its pulmonary specialty pharma positioning makes it broadly comparable to Halo's eventual commercial ambition.

Emerging players

• Arcturus Therapeutics: Arcturus is an RNA therapeutics company with inhaled delivery platforms for pulmonary diseases. While its modality differs, its focus on pulmonary drug delivery and rare lung disease targets makes it an adjacent comparable.
• Altavant Sciences: Altavant (acquired by Sumitomo Pharma) developed rodatristat and other therapies for pulmonary hypertension. Its prior focus on PH drug development makes it a directly comparable specialty biotech peer.
• Gossamer Bio: Gossamer Bio develops therapeutics for pulmonary and immunology indications, including seralutinib for PAH. Its pipeline focus on inflammatory and pulmonary vascular diseases closely overlaps with Halo's fibrosis/PH franchise.
• Aerovate Therapeutics: Aerovate is a clinical-stage company developing inhaled imatinib for pulmonary arterial hypertension. As a small, focused PH therapeutics developer, it is comparable in scale and therapeutic focus to Halo.

Direct peers

• United Therapeutics: United Therapeutics markets Tyvaso (inhaled treprostinil), currently the only FDA-approved therapy for PH-ILD. As the incumbent in Halo's lead indication, it represents the most direct competitive comparable for HB-1614.
• Pliant Therapeutics: Pliant is a clinical-stage biotech developing therapies for fibrotic diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Its focus on fibrosis mechanisms is closely comparable to Halo's HA-pathway approach in ILD-related fibrotic conditions.
• Liquidia Technologies: Liquidia is developing an inhaled treprostinil formulation (YUTREPIA) for pulmonary arterial hypertension and PH-ILD. It is a directly comparable clinical/commercial-stage competitor in Halo's lead indication.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about
• Xx.com/HaloBiosciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Halo Biosciences