Squarex
Squarex Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing SQX770, a topical formulation of the immunomodulator SADBE applied via arm patch, intended as the first FDA-approved preventive therapy for recurrent cold sores (herpes labialis) in frequent sufferers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Squarex does
Squarex Pharmaceuticals is a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, that is developing SQX770, a topical formulation of the immunomodulator squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) dissolved in DMSO and delivered to the upper arm via a band-aid-type patch. The company's lead indication is prevention of recurrent cold sores (herpes labialis), for which no FDA-approved preventive therapy currently exists; SQX770 has completed placebo-controlled Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials demonstrating that a single topical dose can delay the next outbreak from a median of 40 days under placebo to more than 124 days in treated patients (p<0.01) and reduce moderate-to-severe outbreaks by a factor of 2.09 over one year of follow-up. The company has completed an End-of-Phase-2 meeting with FDA and plans to begin Phase 3 trials in 2023 or early 2024.
Squarex is pre-revenue and funds its operations without disclosed institutional rounds; its economic model is intended to be classic prescription pharmaceutical product sales through pharmacies and healthcare providers upon FDA approval, with no pricing publicly disclosed at this stage. Its target customer base once commercialized is the large population of frequent cold sore sufferers—more than 50 million people in the U.S. and over 7 million patients experiencing six or more outbreaks per year—across both HSV-1 and HSV-2 etiologies, with potential follow-on indications in molluscum contagiosum and fungal/yeast infections covered by pending international patent filings.
The company's intellectual property and regulatory position constitutes its principal assets: granted U.S. patents on composition of matter (US 10,744,084), methods of medical treatment (US 10,245,314, US 10,940,197, US 9,205,065), Korean Patent 10-1352238, an international PCT (WO2020055382), and a pending application for a dermal patch device/kit that, if issued, would extend exclusivity to 2040-2041. The organization is founder-led (Hugh McTavish, a Ph.D. biochemist and patent attorney with 21 U.S. patents) and runs a lean 1-10 person operation supported by Phase 2 clinical trial partnerships with Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard Medical School) and Stanford University, with a CFO hire in 2023 signaling preparation for capital markets activity or a strategic transaction.
Squarex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Squarex
- Legal name
- SquareX Pharmaceuticals
- Website
- https://squarex-pharma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Squarex Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing SQX770, a topical formulation of the immunomodulator SADBE applied via arm patch, intended as the first FDA-approved preventive therapy for recurrent cold sores (herpes labialis) in frequent sufferers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Squarex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Squarex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Once FDA approved, Squarex expects to generate revenue from sales of SQX770 for cold sore prevention. The company is pre-revenue as it is still in clinical development stage with Phase 3 trials planned.
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Squarex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SQUAREX is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing SQX770, a topical formulation of the immunomodulator squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) dissolved in DMSO, applied to the arm using a band-aid type patch for a few hours. SQX770 is being developed as the first therapeutic for the prevention of cold sore (herpes labialis) outbreaks, with clinical trials demonstrating that a single dose can improve immune response to the herpes simplex virus on a cellular level and prevent outbreaks for up to three months.
Product overview
SquareX Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing a single lead product candidate, SQX770, for the prevention of cold sores (oral herpes) caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 or 2. SQX770 is a topical formulation of the immunomodulator squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) applied to the arm using a band-aid type patch. The company has completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials and is preparing for Phase 3 trials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SQX770 A topical formulation of squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) dissolved in DMSO, applied to the arm using a band-aid type patch for a few hours, intended for the prevention of cold sore (herpes labialis) outbreaks in adults. Clinical trials have demonstrated that a single dose improves cellular immune response to herpes simplex virus and prevents outbreaks for up to three months.
Quantifiable outcome
- Single dose tripled median time to next outbreak from 40 days (placebo) to >124 days (treatment group), p<0.01
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Squarex
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Squarex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Squarex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Massachusetts General HospitalcoreSquareX conducted its placebo-controlled Phase 1 clinical trial and Phase 2 clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Maria Alora Palli from Harvard Medical School served as Investigator in Phase 1 and Principal Investigator in Phase 2 at this site.
- Stanford UniversitycorePhase 2 clinical trial was conducted at Stanford University. Dr. Anne Lynn S. Chang from Stanford Medical School served as Principal Investigator on the Phase 2 clinical trial.
- Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd.minor
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Squarex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Quoin Pharmaceuticals: Nasdaq-listed clinical-stage specialty pharma focused on rare skin and orphan diseases; Squarex board member Michael Myers serves as Quoin's Chairman and CEO. Most direct comparable given shared dermatology focus and similar clinical-stage profile.
- Arcutis Biotherapeutics: Late-stage clinical dermatology company developing topical treatments for inflammatory skin conditions. Comparable as a small-cap clinical-stage dermatology pharma pursuing FDA approval of a topical product.
- Verrica Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage dermatology company developing topical therapies for skin diseases. Similar size, clinical-stage profile, and topical dermatology focus to Squarex.
- Dermavant Sciences: Clinical-stage dermatology company developing topical therapeutics for immuno-inflammatory skin diseases. Comparable business model of bringing a single topical product through FDA approval.
- Novan: Clinical-stage dermatology company with a topical nitric-oxide-based platform for skin diseases. Comparable as a small clinical-stage topical dermatology drug developer.
- VYNE Therapeutics: Clinical-stage dermatology company developing topical therapies for inflammatory skin conditions. Similar small-cap clinical-stage profile focused on topical drug development.
- Aclaris Therapeutics: Clinical-stage dermatology company developing novel immunomodulatory therapies. Comparable given shared focus on immunomodulator mechanisms in dermatology indications.
- AiCuris Anti-infective Cures: Private clinical-stage anti-infective company developing antivirals including for herpes simplex virus. Closest direct competitor on the herpes indication, focused on prevention/treatment of HSV.
- Biofrontera: Specialty dermatology pharma with topical prescription products. Comparable small-cap topical dermatology developer with similar regulatory/commercial pathway profile.
Emerging players
- Moderna (HSV vaccine program): Developing mRNA-1608, an HSV vaccine candidate in clinical trials. Represents a potential long-term disruptive alternative to topical SQX770 for herpes prevention, though targeting different mechanism.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Squarex social profiles
Digital presenceSquarex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Squarex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Squarex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Squarex M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Squarex
What does Squarex do?
SQUAREX is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing SQX770, a topical formulation of the immunomodulator squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) dissolved in DMSO, applied to the arm using a band-aid type patch for a few hours. SQX770 is being developed as the first therapeutic for the prevention of cold sore (herpes labialis) outbreaks, with clinical trials demonstrating that a single dose can improve immune response to the herpes simplex virus on a cellular level and prevent outbreaks for up to three months.
Is Squarex a public or private company?
Squarex is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Squarex founded?
Squarex was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Squarex based?
Squarex is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does Squarex make money?
One revenue line is on record: pharmaceutical Product Sales.
Who are Squarex's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Quoin Pharmaceuticals, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Verrica Pharmaceuticals, Dermavant Sciences, Novan, VYNE Therapeutics, Aclaris Therapeutics, AiCuris Anti-infective Cures and Biofrontera. Moderna (HSV vaccine program) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Squarex have an API?
No public API is recorded for Squarex.