We are an innovative preclinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel immunotherapies to lengthen health span by disrupting the link between chronic, low-grade inflammation and age-related diseases. We believe age-related low-grade chronic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” is a significant contributing factor to several chronic diseases and conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative disease, and autoimmune disease. 

Our gateway indication is oncology. Advances in immuno-stimulatory and anti-immunosuppressive therapeutics have revolutionized cancer treatment. Our lead molecule, HCW9218, is designed with both of these functionalities – it rejuvenates the immune system to reduce senescence, and it captures transforming growth factor-ß (“TGF-ß”) to neutralize its immunosuppressive activity. We are preparing to submit an investigational new drug application (“IND”) for a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in pancreatic cancer to evaluate HCW9218.

We are initially developing HCW9218 as an injectable immunotherapeutic for patients with solid tumors. Our initial goal is to evaluate HCW9218 in patients with cancer as we attempt to minimize the side effects of chemotherapy through stimulating anti-tumor effector immune cell responses, blocking TGF-ß immunosuppressive activity, eliminating chemotherapy-induced senescent cells in tumors and normal tissues (i.e., senolytic effect), and reducing senescence-associated secretory phenotype (“SASP”) factor activity (i.e., senomorphic effect).  clinical trials.

(Note: HCW Biologics priced its IPO on July 19, 2021, at $8 – the low end of its $8-to-$10 range – but increase the number of shares to 7 million, up from 5.6 million shares in the prospectus, to raise $56 million – above the $50.4 million estimate.)