New SDU spinout will change the treatment of liver fibrosis

SDU company Crossingbio will develop a new type of treatment for patients with liver fibrosis; a disease that affects millions of people worldwide and is difficult to treat.

- We are developing a new way to treat fibrosis by inhibiting a protein called MFAP4 that no one has pursued before. It is a completely new mechanism we have identified as central to the development of the disease, and we have now identified our development candidate, says Mads Aaboe Jensen, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Crossingbio.

- Our vision is to expand and improve the efficacy of existing treatments for adults, but also to develop a completely new treatment for children with liver fibrosis, the CEO says.

Complex disease requires innovative thinking

Fibrosis is a complex disease and liver fibrosis in particular represents a large unmet medical need. Crossingbio is developing a treatment that targets a specific protein involved in the disease.

- Most researchers are trying to improve existing mechanisms. We have found something completely new that we can develop treatment for – it's quite unique, explains Grith Lykke Sørensen, professor at SDU and one of the researchers behind the project.

The company’s motto is ‘Rethinking fibrosis treatment’ and Crossingbio has already attracted positive attention from investors, even though they have not yet actively reached out broadly.

The research project itself has already attracted €4.5 million in funding. In addition, the team has conducted studies in animal models showing efficacy in liver fibrosis, kidney fibrosis and eye fibrosis.

- We have very strong data documenting efficacy in several diseases. It's rare to see this in a university setting. Now we are focusing on liver fibrosis,’ says Grith Lykke Sørensen.

Potential for children with rare liver disease

One of the most promising indications is biliary atresia, a rare paediatric disease that is the most common reason for liver transplantation in young children.

There is currently no approved treatment, and Crossingbio’s antibody has the potential to delay or even prevent the need for transplantation.

- We are in contact with the leading experts in Denmark and together we are planning the next steps towards clinical development, which we are ready for once we secure the necessary funding for the activities, explains CEO Mads Aaboe Jensen.