Fibronox spun out from University of Arizona’s College of Medicine – Tucson in 2017 to deliver Nox4-inhibiting drugs for fibrotic disorders including lung fibrosis.
Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), the tech transfer office of University of Arizona, has formally unveiled a US-based spinout called Fibronox to design small molecule drugs for fibrotic disorders.
Founded in 2017, Fibronox develops drugs for progressive scar tissue deposits that can chronically arise in areas of the body including the lungs, liver and intestines. These potentially fatal conditions are collectively known as fibrotic disorders.
The spinout’s initial approach targets mechanisms affecting the regulation of NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) enzymes, a crucial cellular producer of oxygen whose dysfunction is thought to help bring on lung fibrosis.
Nox4 has also been observed to dysregulate during aging, potentially clarifying why fibrotic disorders disproportionately affect the elderly.
Fibronox extends an approach pioneered at University of Arizona’s College of Medicine – Tucson and Bio5 Institute research hub under the direction of Louise Hecker, associate professor of medicine.
Hecker’s work was aided by Vijay Gokhale, a senior research scientist at Bio5 Institute who also acts as vice-president of discovery at Arizona cancer therapy spinout Reglagene, and Reena Chawla, who left a postdoctoral research role at University of Arizona in January 2019. So far, Fibronox does not appear to have disclosed any details of equity funding.
Hecker said: “Fibrotic disease impacts millions of healthcare consumers. With hundreds of failed clinical trials for fibrotic disease, there is a clear need for improved therapeutic strategies.”
Joann MacMaster, senior director of venture development at TLA, added: “Louise and the Fibronox team have put the hard work in to get this company started on the right path to success. This team is strong and ready to take this project forward.”
