Liping Liu Founder, CEO and Chairwoman HIGHTIDE THERAPEUTICS
What are recent milestones progressing HighTide Therapeutics towards its mission?
HighTide develops innovative therapeutics for metabolic diseases, including diabetes, MASH, and obesity. We focus on the patient’s health as a whole—rather than just treating the disease. We aim to improve patient total health outcomes by developing multi-target, multi-mechanism therapeutics. We are in late-stage clinical development. We plan to file our first NDA for type 2 diabetes in China in H2 2025.
In 2024, we launched three pivotal phase 3 trials for type 2 diabetes in China and completed enrollment. We also finished enrollment for a global phase 2b MASH study, primarily in the US, with some patients from Hong Kong and China as well. In early discovery, we identified several lead candidates targeting weight loss and neurodegenerative diseases. In Dec 2023, we went public on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Our first year as a public company boosted visibility.
We moved into a 35,000-square-foot space in Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, a key region for our next decade of growth. We are building a foundation for worldwide expansion. How do recent results support berberine ursodeoxycholate (HTD1801)’s potential to be a blockbuster drug?
We have strong data proving HTD1801 is an innovative, first-in-class dual-mechanism molecule. It activates AMPK and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome—two key metabolic disease targets. While others develop drugs that target AMPK or NLRP3 separately, HTD1801 is the first to target both simultaneously. This approach delivers metabolic and anti-inflammatory benefits, addressing chronic inflammation—the root cause of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. It also opens doors for anti-aging applications.
Pharma seeks rare mega-blockbuster drugs. PD-1 inhibitors and GLP-1s changed the industry. HTD1801 has similar potential. Success requires a balance of safety, tolerability, efficacy, and broad impact. Addressing disease at its root enables multiple indications. This is how a drug becomes a blockbuster.
Andrew Feinberg President and CEO BOSTONGENE
What is the BostonGene’s mandate?
BostonGene leverages AI and biocomputing to redefine precision medicine. Our proprietary AI-powered multimodal platform integrates vast biological data to revolutionize treatment decisions. We are not just analyzing cancer—we are decoding its biology to personalize treatment for every patient. The reality is stark: Developing cancer drugs is expensive, slow and inefficient. Only 5% of clinical trials succeed, resulting in over $50 billion in failed trials every year. Despite major advancements in technology, biology, and science, therapeutic development has remained unchanged for decades. BostonGene is changing the paradigm with AI. How does BostonGene’s holistic approach to data integration change precision medicine?
You cannot identify what a symphony is playing by just looking at the instruments. Similarly, you cannot understand disease by studying isolated biological components. Traditional research examines proteins, transcriptomics, immune system responses and genetic mutations in silos. BostonGene breaks these silos.
Our AI-powered multimodal platform integrates data at four critical levels. On the molecular level, genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic insights uncover the underlying drivers of cancer and power drug and target discovery.
Our fusion neural network and proprietary AI model process this multimodal data, reconstructing missing insights and simulating patient responses to therapies. By creating a comprehensive Tumor PortraitTM and a Digital Twin of each patient, we deliver truly personalized treatment strategies. How will AI transform oncology?
BostonGene’s AI model is proactive. We simulate clinical trials before they begin, modeling patient responses and optimizing drug development strategies. This dramatically increases the probability of technical success, accelerates trial timelines and reduces costs. We optimize patient selection, ensuring that only those likely to respond are enrolled. We model drug mechanisms of action, designing smarter trials that require fewer patients. We unlock drug repurposing opportunities, rescuing failed assets and bringing them back to market.