HuntX Pharma | Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences

HuntX Pharma develops oral small molecules to prevent the onset of genetic neurodegenerative diseases. It focuses on a group of about 50 pathologies that share a common cause, a genetic mutation, and a common consequence, the alteration of communication between brain cells called axonal transport.

Depending on the gene in which the mutation occurs patients end up with different diseases such as Huntington Disease, our first indication, or Rett syndrome. Most of these Axonal-Transport-Related-Diseases are orphan diseases with high unmet medical need (rare, fatal and, without a cure). Our unique strategy is to restore the altered axonal transport by modulating an enzymatic reaction called depalmitoylation. This leads to a complete restoration of axonal transport and bring back to normal the phenotype of animal suffering from Huntington Disease (Virlogeux et al 2021) opening a route to a revolution in the management of patients with Huntington's disease and other diseases related to axonal transport defects.

HuntX Pharma was incorporated in December 2022 in Grenoble and has been hosted at the Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences (GIN) since January 2023. HuntX was cofounded by Laure Jamot (President, PhD in Neuroscience, HEC) and Pr Frédéric Saudou (PhD in Neuroscience, PUPH at CHUGA, team “Intracellular trafficking and Neurodegeneration) to first develop assets discovered by Pr Saudou and patented by University Grenoble Alpes (UGA).

Both bring together excellence in science and in drug development for rare diseases. They were awarded Grand-Prix iLab 2022, Prix de la Fondation Beatrice Denys 2023, Trophée startup Maladie Rare 2024 of France Biotech and the Ipsen Golden Ticket 2024.

HuntX Pharma is also supported by:

HuntX Pharma - 3, avenue Marie Reynoard - 38100 Grenoble