AVIGI Therapeutics

AVIGI Therapeutics has developed a breakthrough, first-in-class technology platform: highly selective, mechanism-based covalent inhibitors of heparanase (HPSE). Heparanase overexpression is a core driver of extracellular matrix degradation, leading to severe tissue scarring in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and fueling tumor invasion and metastasis in oncology.

Our lead candidate, VL166, acts as a "suicide substrate." It tricks the heparanase enzyme into processing it, which unmasks a reactive group that forms a permanent, irreversible covalent bond with the active site. This highly targeted approach halts the molecular driver of kidney damage upstream and neutralizes a central mechanism of cancer progression, offering a superior safety and efficacy profile compared to traditional competitive inhibitors.

Program status: VL166 is currently in late-stage preclinical development, progressing toward IND-enabling GLP toxicology and CMC scale-up. The program is underpinned by a robust composition-of-matter and method-of-use patent estate owned by the Dutch parent entity.