Cholesterol and other substances accumulate in artery walls, forming a plaque over the course of many years. If this plaque ruptures, a blood clot may form that reduces or even cuts off blood flow to the heart or brain. This buildup of fatty deposits, known as atherosclerosis, is a major contributing factor for developing severe cardiovascular disease – the number one killer of men and women in industrialized nations.

Leading experts in cardiovascular health believe that HDL therapy represents the most promising next step in the fight against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Drawing on an international team with outstanding experience in HDL, Cerenis is developing a portfolio of HDL-related therapies for cardiovascular disease.

Cerenis HDL is a large molecule that is a synthetically produced functional HDL complex (or “mimetic”) based on natural apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the major structural protein of HDL. Intended to prevent the recurrence of an acute cardiac event (e.g., heart attack or stroke), Cerenis HDL has shown strong preclinical efficacy in promoting reverse lipid transport (RLT), a natural cardioprotective mechanism in humans by which excess lipids are removed from peripheral tissues and transported back to the liver for excretion. Cerenis expects to demonstrate in human clinical trials that this compound rapidly removes large amounts of atherosclerotic plaque within weeks of treatment initiation, thereby significantly reducing the chance of future cardiac events. We have identified a proprietary manufacturing process and have successfully produced material that will be used in animal and human clinical trials.

Cerenis is developing several small molecule therapy programs that raise endogenous levels of HDL, and thereby treat chronic atherosclerosis. These orally available compounds are expected to provide long-term benefits to patients.

Our most advanced program focuses on PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) delta agonists. Our compounds are highly specific for PPAR delta receptors, which are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. These next generation compounds have proven highly effective in elevating HDL and halting the progression of atherosclerosis in animal models. A licensing agreement with Nippon Chemiphar Company, Ltd. gives Cerenis access to a broad range of patented PPAR compounds and a distinct advantage in this very promising new area of HDL research.