Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:HEPA), a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on Artificial Intelligence
(“AI”)-driven therapeutic drug development for the treatment of
non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (“NASH”) and hepatocellular carcinoma
(“HCC”), today announced that it has appointed Eddie C. Cheung,
M.D., FACG, to lead Strategic Medical Affairs in Asia.
In this newly created role with Hepion, Dr.
Cheung will explore and identify possible partnerships, and will
liaise with national and regional regulatory authorities and
thought leaders to advance rencofilstat’s clinical development
strategy in China and other parts of Asia.
Dr. Cheung’s current appointments include
Professor of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Academic Leader and
Director of Hepatology, and Doctoral Supervisor at the Seventh
Affiliated Hospital at Sun Yat-sen University in Shenzhen, China.
In addition, he has been Professor of Internal Medicine, Clinical
Nutrition and Gastroenterology/Hepatology at the California
Northstate University College of Medicine; Clinical Professor of
Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology at the University
of California at Davis School of Medicine; as well as Honorary
Professor at the 302 Military Hospital, Translational Hepatology
Institute of the Capital Medical University in Beijing and Honorary
Director of Sino-U.S. International Liver Disease Center at the
Zhejiang University Shulan Health Group, Hangzhou, China. He is on
the National Board of Directors and the Medical Advisory Board of
the American Liver Foundation.
Dr. Cheung founded the Asian Cancer Coalition
and was a member of the Coalition to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis in
Asia Pacific, as well as the U.S. National Task Force for Hepatitis
B. He was previously the Chair, Asian-American Pacific Islander
Workgroup of the American Cancer Society and served on the Clinical
Faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine and the
University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine.
Additionally, he was Chair of the Board of Directors, Northern
California, and Nevada Division of the American Liver Foundation.
He received the Salute to Excellence Outstanding Community Service
Award from the American Liver Foundation, Outstanding Contribution
to Health Award from the Community Health Charities, the
Distinguished Community Service Award from the Salvation Army, and
the Special Contribution Award from the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Dr. Cheung earned his medical degree from Taipei
Medical University, Taiwan in 1974 and completed his Fellowship of
Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Clinical Nutrition at the
University of Louisville, Kentucky in 1980.
“For over 50 years, Dr. Cheung has been involved
in research, teaching and clinical practice in various areas of
gastroenterology and hepatology, advancing the understanding and
use of new treatments for fatty liver disease, HCC, and viral
hepatitis, and we are honored that he has accepted this key role,”
said Dr. Robert Foster, PharmD, PhD, Hepion’s CEO. “We are
extremely confident in his ability to spearhead our business
development and partnering efforts for rencofilstat, our lead
candidate in clinical development for the treatment of NASH and
HCC, in Asia.”
“I have been involved, both on a regional and
international level, in a number of efforts in the fight against
gastrointestinal and liver diseases, particularly liver cancer and
viral hepatitis, so I am excited to continue this journey with
Hepion,” commented Dr. Cheung. “Approximately 75% of the world’s
cases of liver cancer occur in Asia, and China alone bears more
than half of the world’s liver cancer burden,1 so I am looking
forward to working with the Hepion team to help realize
rencofilstat’s full potential.”
Reference
1 Wang, W. J., Xiao, P., Xu, H. Q., Niu, J. Q.,
& Gao, Y. H. (2019). Growing burden of alcoholic liver disease
in China: A review. World journal of gastroenterology, 25(12),
1445–1456. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v25.i12.1445
About Hepion Pharmaceuticals
The Company's lead drug candidate, rencofilstat
(CRV431), is a potent inhibitor of cyclophilins, which are involved
in many disease processes. Rencofilstat is currently in
clinical-phase development for the treatment of NASH, with the
potential to play an important role in the overall treatment of
liver disease - from triggering events through to end-stage
disease. Rencofilstat has been shown to reduce liver fibrosis and
hepatocellular carcinoma tumor burden in experimental models of
NASH, and has demonstrated antiviral activities towards HBV, HCV,
and HDV through several mechanisms, in nonclinical studies. In
November 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)
granted Fast Track designation for rencofilstat for the treatment
of NASH. That was soon followed in December 2021 by the FDA’s
acceptance of Hepion’s investigational new drug (IND) application
for rencofilstat for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC).
Hepion has created a proprietary AI platform,
called AI-POWR™, which stands for Artificial
Intelligence - Precision Medicine;
Omics (including genomics, proteomics,
metabolomics, transcriptomics, and lipidomics);
World database access; and
Response and clinical outcomes. Hepion intends to
use AI-POWR™ to help identify which NASH patients will best respond
to rencofilstat, potentially shortening development timelines and
increasing the delta between placebo and treatment groups. In
addition to using AI-POWR™ to drive its ongoing NASH clinical
development program, Hepion intends to use the platform to identify
additional potential indications for rencofilstat to expand the
company's footprint in the cyclophilin inhibition therapeutic
space.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are
forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified
by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,”
“believe,” “forecast,” “estimated,” and “intend,” among others.
These forward-looking statements are based on Hepion
Pharmaceuticals’ current expectations and actual results could
differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause
actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not
limited to, substantial competition; our ability to continue as a
going concern; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of
patent protection and litigation; risks associated with delays,
increased costs and funding shortages caused by the COVID-19
pandemic; uncertainties with respect to lengthy and expensive
clinical trials, that results of earlier studies and trials may not
be predictive of future trial results; uncertainties of government
or third party payer reimbursement; limited sales and marketing
efforts and dependence upon third parties; and risks related to
failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance
with FDA regulations. As with any drug candidates under
development, there are significant risks in the development,
regulatory approval, and commercialization of new products. There
are no guarantees that future clinical trials discussed in this
press release will be completed or successful, or that any product
will receive regulatory approval for any indication or prove to be
commercially successful. Hepion Pharmaceuticals does not undertake
an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.
Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Hepion
Pharmaceuticals’ Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020,
and other periodic reports filed.
For further information, please contact:
Stephen KilmerHepion Pharmaceuticals Investor RelationsDirect:
(646) 274-3580skilmer@hepionpharma.com
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