Prof. Lars Zender highlighted HepaRegeniX’s leading drug candidate and its potential to boost liver regeneration, covering everything from initial target identification and drug development to the results of Phase Ia clinical trials.
Tuebingen, Germany, May 8, 2025 – HepaRegeniX, a clinical-stage company focused on developing innovative treatments for acute and chronic liver conditions, announced that its co-founder, Prof. Dr. med. Lars Zender, delivered the Karl Wilhelm von Kupffer Basic Science State-of-the-Art plenary address at the 2025 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress today. The presentation, titled “From bench to bedside: a success story in liver regeneration,” detailed the discovery of the small molecule HRX-215, its mechanism of action in inhibiting the kinase MKK4 (a crucial regulator of liver regeneration), and the data collected on HRX-215 so far, including Phase I clinical trial results confirming its positive safety profile and pharmacokinetics.
Prof. Zender, a recognized expert in basic and translational liver research, discussed the identification of Mitogen Activated Protein (MAP) Kinase Kinase 4 (MKK4) as a key controller of liver regeneration. This discovery led to the development of HepaRegeniX’s primary candidate, HRX-215, an orally bioavailable small molecule that inhibits MKK4. HRX-215 has been shown to stabilize liver cells and enhance regeneration, even in diseased livers. In a notable demonstration of its liver regenerative properties, HRX-215 significantly improved prognosis and survival rates in an experimental model involving a severe, lethal 85% liver resection in pigs. This experiment underscored the potential for significant therapeutic advantages beyond current treatments for serious liver diseases and was initially published in a scientific journal. HRX-215 is currently undergoing a Phase Ib trial to assess its effectiveness in preventing liver failure after hepatectomy.
“The creation of this first molecularly targeted therapy to stimulate liver regeneration illustrates how functional genetic screens can identify new therapeutic targets and lead to groundbreaking therapeutic strategies,” commented HepaRegeniX co-founder, Lars Zender. “From identifying the molecular target to producing strong preclinical and clinical validation data, HRX-215 highlights the value of translational science.”
“The data presented today demonstrates HRX-215’s ability to initiate regeneration in a way never before seen. This could enhance the safety of extensive oncological liver resections and potentially facilitate living donor liver transplants using smaller grafts, offering a possible therapeutic solution for an area of unmet medical need,” stated Elias Papatheodorou, Chief Executive Officer at HepaRegeniX. “We are still benefiting from our partnership with Lars and his lab. With the recent completion of the second stage of our Series C funding, we are well-prepared to advance this program through Phase IIa.”
The EASL Congress is Europe’s premier hepatology event, bringing together thousands of innovators and leaders in liver research. The State-of-the-Art lecture series, which includes the Karl Wilhelm von Kupffer Basic Science session, features prominent key opinion leaders who share the latest cutting-edge scientific advancements.
About HepaRegeniX GmbH
HepaRegeniX is developing treatments for acute and chronic liver diseases based on the identification of a novel cellular target and small molecules that enable rapid liver regeneration. We achieve this by leveraging the liver’s natural regenerative capacity in both healthy and diseased states. The company’s lead candidate, HRX-215, an orally available small molecule currently in a Phase Ib/IIa trial, selectively inhibits Mitogen-Activated Protein (MAP) Kinase Kinase 4 (MKK4), a key regulator of liver regeneration. Building on the demonstrated safety in clinical trials, HepaRegeniX is advancing HRX-215 to prevent post-hepatectomy liver failure, facilitate transplantation of smaller living donor liver grafts, and treat severe alcohol-associated hepatitis. In addition to liver diseases, the company is also developing HRX-233 to address kinase inhibitor treatment resistance in KRAS-driven tumors.
HepaRegeniX is supported by a group of experienced life science investors, including Vesalius Biocapital IV, Novo Holdings A/S, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF), Coparion, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Ascenion GmbH, and Wellington Partners.
Visit our website at to learn more about the company.
For further information, please contact:
HepaRegeniX GmbH
Elias Papatheodorou
Chief Executive Officer
Media Inquiries
Trophic Communications
Charlotte Spitz or Gretchen Schweitzer
Tel: +49 171 351 2733
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