V4Cure is based on CEA research into the use of animal toxins as a source of therapeutic molecules. The start-up is focusing its efforts on one of them, V4C-232, with two indications in cardio-renal diseases.
V4C-232 is a first-in-class synthetic molecule derived from a pepitde found in the venom of the green mamba, a sub-Saharan African snake. The potency and safety of V4C-232 in treating volume overload conditions
and rare polycystic kidney disease was demonstrated in preclinical studies.
V4Cure is developing V4C-232 as a new drug candidate to treat refractory ascites (unresponding to diuretics) in liver cirrhosis, as the primary indication. This is a critical condition with an unmet medical need, as there is currently no effective drug therapy available. Refractory ascites occur in 10% of patients developing ascites and affect the survival rate. V4C-232 represents a safe and effective solution for these patients.
V4Cure is conducting pharmacological studies and drug candidate developments, to then launch phase 1 and 2 clinical studies. Meanwhile, V4Cure is also developing another V4C-232-based product as a new therapy for polycystic kidney diseases (ADPKD and ARPKD). These rare, chronic, genetic, and progressive diseases could lead to severe renal failure, with very limited therapeutic options, especially for Children.