Draft:Halia Therapeutics, Inc.

Halia Therapeutics is a privately-owned pharmaceutical company based in Lehi, Utah that focuses on treating inflammatory disorders by targeting inflammasome.

History
Halia Therapeutics was founded in 2017 by David Bearss, Ph.D., Jared Bearss, and Brigham Young University-Hawaii's 11th president John S. K. Kauwe III. The company focuses on therapies for inflammatory disorders and neurological diseases. David Bearss, Ph.D. serves as President and CEO of the company. In 2024, Halia Therapeutics won the Medical & Health Med Tech Award Utah Business Innovation award, and its CEO David Bearss was awarded the Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology the same year, for his involvement as a consultant to the Governor during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving on several boards within the state of Utah, and his involvement in establishing the research arm of the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the U2TAH Therapeutics Accelerator at the University of Utah.

Financing
Halia Therapeutics completed Series C funding raised $30M. Financing was led by Todd Pedersen, with continued funding from previous investors.

Indications and Programs
Inflammation has been linked to myriad medical conditions. Halia Therapeutics' products target inflammation-related indications, including neurological disorders and cancers.

Halia Therapeutics’ lead candidate, HT-6184, inhibits the inflammasome by blocking the interaction between NLRP3 and NEK7. HT-6184 has been shown to be well tolerated in Phase I study in healthy volunteer subjects. HT-6184 is currently being tested in Phase II trials for MDS and inflammatory pain. It additionally will be tested in a different formulation that can cross the blood-brain barrier, HT-6153, to treat inflammatory diseases of the eye.

Further therapies that inhibit inflammasome include HT-6258 which will be tested as a treatment for gastroenterology.

Halia Therapeutics’ additional programs that target the inflammasome include HT-6283 for Neuroinflammation, HT-6515 for Dermatology, and HT-6153 for Intervertebral Disk Disease.

Halia Therapeutics has also developed LRRK2 inhibitor that is currently being evaluated in two additional programs. These include, HT-4253, which will be tested to treat Alzheimer’s Disease, and HT-4403 for Parkinson’s Disease.