Shaperon

About Shaperon

Shaperon is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, founded in 2008 as a venture from Seoul National University by co-CEO Seung-Yong Seong. The company focuses on developing treatments for immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. It successfully completed an initial public offering (IPO) on the KOSDAQ market in October 2022.

The company's core technology revolves around novel inflammasome inhibitors that modulate the GPCR19-P2X7 pathway. This mechanism is designed to suppress a wide range of inflammatory cytokines by controlling both the priming and activation phases of the inflammasome, a different approach from conventional methods that typically only address the activation phase. Shaperon is advancing multiple clinical programs for conditions including atopic dermatitis (Nugel), Alzheimer's disease (NuCerin), and cytokine release syndrome (NuSepin). The atopic dermatitis therapy, Nugel, is in global Phase 2 trials in the U.S. and South Korea, with completion expected in 2026.

In addition to small molecule inhibitors, Shaperon has developed a nanobody therapeutic platform. Nanobodies are roughly one-tenth the size of conventional antibodies, offering high stability and solubility. The company possesses a full-cycle platform for nanobody discovery, from alpaca immunization to development and analysis. This platform is being used to develop multi-specific nanobodies for oncology and viral diseases, including collaborations with companies like Dong-A ST for cancer treatments. The company's business model involves in-house development, global clinical trials led by its U.S. subsidiary Hudson Therapeutics, and strategic licensing partnerships. Hudson Therapeutics was established in 2023 to manage global trials, business development, and commercialization strategies.