Pleryon Therapeutics

About Pleryon Therapeutics

Pleryon Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company founded in 2016, operating as a spin-off from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The company was co-founded by Dr. Yu Yu, who serves as the CEO, and Professor Ying Chau, its Chief Scientific Officer. The founding team combines extensive research and development experience in biomaterials and drug delivery from work at universities and multinational pharmaceutical companies.

The firm's core business revolves around developing polymer-based therapeutics to address significant unmet medical needs. Pleryon's proprietary technology platform enables the design and control of the structure of large polymeric molecules, which can then be used to treat complex diseases through physical, mechanical, and biological actions. This drug delivery system is designed to be applicable across a broad spectrum of molecules and therapeutic areas. The business model focuses on leveraging this platform to create a diversified and scalable product pipeline, with research and development centers in Shenzhen and Shanghai.

Pleryon's product pipeline is concentrated on ophthalmology, orthopedics, and regenerative aesthetics. Key products in development include an intra-articular injection (P001X) for osteoarthritis, which is a synthetic di-block copolymer providing boundary lubrication for knee joints. For ophthalmology, the company is developing a topical lubricating polymer (P002) for Dry Eye Disease (DED), a contact lens lubricant, and a long-acting anti-VEGF therapeutic for age-related macular degeneration. A significant milestone was achieved in April 2022, when the company secured close to 100 million RMB (approximately $15.7M) in a Pre-A funding round led by Lapam Investment, with participation from Kaitai Capital and Zero2IPO Venture, to advance its pre-clinical development.