Seung-Yong Seong, Founder and CEOThe firm was established by Seung-Yong Seong, MD, Ph.D., a renowned professor at Seoul National University’s Medical School. His notable contribution to immunology and microbiology (the DAMPs theory) and dedication to improving people’s life laid the foundation of Shaperon. His passion for his work is reflected in the organization’s efforts to help patients with various inflammatory diseases.
Shaperon takes a unique therapeutics approach to target the GPCR19-P2X7 axis, which covers mostly upstream of the inflammasome pathway unlike current inhibitors that target substances in lower pathways such as P2X7 or NLRP3. This therapeutic method can address the key challenges regarding inflammasome inhibitor targeting therapy. It helps inhibit the primary phase (suppression of multiple proinflammatory cytokines in addition to IL-1b/IL-18), reducing P2X7 polymorphism, lower Inflammasome redundancy, and NLRP3 polymorphism.
The method has demonstrated an excellent safety profile in preclinical and clinical studies since GCPR19 is mainly expressed on myeloid cells (lower off-target effect).
“Our GPCR19-P2X7 modulation is a cutting-edge technique that suppresses cytokines like IL-1β, IL- 18, IL-6, and TNF-α by controlling the priming and activation phases of inflammasomes. We are dedicated to using innovative approaches to tackle some of the most pressing health issues of our time. I’m honored to lead such an incredible team,” states Seong, founder and CEO of Shaperon.
Shaperon has proprietary immunized libraries for anti-cancer nanobodies with high throughput screening and selection technology. Their antiviral nanobodies have high affinity and strong neutralizing potency with bispecific pipelines targeting CD47 and PD-L1. The firm is also developing tri-specific nanobodies for cancer with one of the top pharma companies in Korea.
Another striking contribution by Shaperon is their clinical programs for treating atopic dermatitis (AD), Alzheimer’s disease, and COVID-19 pneumonia. Their AD treatment has shown incredible results with suppression of a broad spectrum of cytokines and chemokines and enhanced instances of tissue regeneration. Based on the treatment process, they have classified AD patients by the first-of-its-kind biomarkers. Embarking on similar endeavors, their COVID-19 pneumonia program has yielded positive results by improving recovery time as well as subduing proinflammatory cytokines and reactivating the phagocytosis of innate immune cells.
At the helm of Shaperon is a highly experienced management team with solid track records. Dr. SA Han, CDO, worked at a distinguished pharma company in Korea after graduating from the University of Tokyo. Dr. HT Kim, CTO and head of Innovation Center, had a long career at Harvard Medical School before joining the firm. Dr. JH Lee, CMO, graduated from Seoul National Medical School and contributed to Celgene and Sanofi. Gene Yune, CFO, has extensive experience at PwC after LG Life Science. Justin Oh, CBO, has an investor background from POSCO Capital and worked at Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology and GSK. This dedicated team seeks to make groundbreaking discoveries in therapeutics to treat patients worldwide.
At a time when biotech companies are struggling with funding issues, Shaperon has exhibited significant progress and an impressive pipeline in preclinical and clinical studies. These novel capabilities are facilitated by their hardworking team members backed by robust scientific data, whose continuous efforts have positioned Shaperon as a prime biotech company.
Shaperon stands out as a leader in the industry with a ceaseless drive for innovation. They are powering a bright future of medicine with the perseverance to improve therapeutics and treat patients worldwide.
Shaperon Inc. Makes a Splash at BioFuture™ 2023 With the Announcement of US Subsidiary Hudson Therapeutics Inc. and Positive Clinical Data
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
CAMBRIDGE - Shaperon Inc. grabbed the spotlight at BioFuture™ 2023 as it confidently graced the stage, delivering a compelling company presentation at Track Kennedy I on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 2:30 PM. Dr. Shawn Seong, CEO of Shaperon, unveiled exciting developments, including the introduction of their new subsidiary, Hudson Therapeutics Inc., in the United States, along with the latest advancements in their clinical data.
Shaperon, a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2008, celebrated significant achievements after its successful initial public offering (IPO) on the KOSDAQ market in Korea in October 2022. In February 2023, Shaperon expanded its presence by establishing Hudson Therapeutics in Research Triangle, North Carolina, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In September 2023, the company received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its atopic dermatitis pipeline, paving the way for the eagerly anticipated phase 2 clinical trial based on promising clinical data collected in Korea. Furthermore, in August of the same year, Shaperon unveiled positive results from a multinational phase 2 clinical trial for its COVID-19 pneumonia pipeline.
Dr. Shawn Seong, the visionary founder and CEO of Shaperon, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Since its inception, Shaperon had remained steadfast in its commitment to research and development, underpinned by robust scientific principles. With the resounding success of our IPO last year and the outstanding clinical data we had achieved for our atopic dermatitis and pneumonia pipelines, Shaperon was poised to shift its focus toward the successful licensing and commercialization of these promising treatments with the launch of our new US subsidiary, ‘Hudson Therapeutics.’ I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to present our company's progress at BioFuture, a premier platform for showcasing our achievements to a global audience of investors.”
Hudson Therapeutics Inc. was founded in February and is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Hudson Therapeutics is responsible for development for Shaperon’s major pipelines and licensing in/out, as well as clinical development in North America.
Sara Demy, CEO of Demy-Colton, the organization behind BioFuture™, shared her excitement about Shaperon's participation, stating, “We were delighted that Shaperon had chosen to present at BioFuture. BioFuture is renowned for uniting today’s foremost innovators, investors, and business leaders to engage in discussions about the transformative forces shaping the future of healthcare. It served as a platform for identifying game-changing technologies that would drive the future of drug discovery. We were honored to have Shaperon as a vital part of this significant event.”
