About Heptares
Heptares: A World-Leader in GPCR Medicine Design and Development
Heptares is a leading biotechnology company that specializes in the design and development of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) medicines. The company was founded in 2007 by a team of experts with extensive experience in the field of GPCR drug discovery. Since then, Heptares has become a world-leader in this area, with an impressive track record of successful drug discovery programs.
What are GPCRs?
GPCRs are proteins that play a crucial role in many physiological processes, including vision, taste, smell, and hormone regulation. They are also involved in numerous diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. As such, they represent an important target for drug discovery.
Heptares' Approach to Drug Discovery
Heptares' approach to drug discovery is based on its proprietary StaR® technology platform. This platform allows the company to stabilize GPCRs in their active conformational state - the state at which they interact with signaling molecules - making them more amenable to structural analysis and screening for potential drugs.
Using this technology platform, Heptares has developed a pipeline of novel drugs targeting various diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, migraine headaches and cancer immunotherapy.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia affecting millions worldwide. It is characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline due to neuronal death caused by amyloid-beta plaques accumulation within brain tissue.
Heptares has developed small molecule drugs targeting specific receptors involved in Alzheimer's disease pathology that have shown promising results during preclinical studies.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by delusions or hallucinations among other symptoms affecting approximately 1% of people worldwide according to WHO estimates.
The current treatment options for schizophrenia have limited efficacy due to their side effects and incomplete symptom relief. Heptares has developed a novel drug candidate that targets the dopamine D1 receptor, which is believed to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are a common neurological disorder affecting millions worldwide. They are characterized by recurrent episodes of severe headache, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
Heptares has developed small molecule drugs targeting specific receptors involved in migraine headaches that have shown promising results during preclinical studies.
Cancer Immunotherapy
Cancer immunotherapy is an emerging field of cancer treatment that aims to harness the power of the immune system to fight cancer cells. Heptares has developed small molecule drugs targeting specific receptors involved in cancer immunotherapy that have shown promising results during preclinical studies.
Conclusion
Heptares is a world-leader in GPCR medicine design and development with an impressive track record of successful drug discovery programs. Its proprietary StaR® technology platform allows for the stabilization of GPCRs in their active conformational state, making them more amenable to structural analysis and screening for potential drugs. The company's pipeline includes novel drugs targeting various diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, migraine headaches and cancer immunotherapy. With its innovative approach to drug discovery, Heptares is poised to make significant contributions towards improving human health worldwide.