Developing mitochondrial-targeted small molecule therapeutics for superior quality weight loss in obesity
¶¶Òõapp Therapeutics
¶¶Òõapp Therapeutics' first-in-class mitochondrial metabolic modulation platform has the potential to address obesity and other key cardiometabolic diseases, focusing first on obesity.  ¶¶Òõapp directs small molecules targeted to the mitochondria which have been demonstrated to be both anti-obesogenic and preserve lean mass in multiple metabolic disease models, result published in oral presentations and posters at ADA 2025, EASD 2025 and ECO 2025.
Based in Oxford and Cambridge, UK, ¶¶Òõapp is developing two core programs in obesity to progress to the clinic including intermittent injectable and an orally administered programs.
¶¶Òõapp Therapeutics' technology builds on over a decade’s worth of academic research by one of the pioneers of mitochondrial-targeting technology, Prof Matt Whiteman PhD, Professor of Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Exeter, who has published over twenty papers demonstrating pharmacological utility of mitochondrial-targeted tool compounds in multiple in vivo models.
Multiple peer-reviewed publications since 2014 have proven beyond a doubt that trans-sulfuration dysfunction is a feature of several progressive metabolic diseases, myopathies, lung inflammatory disease and rare indications as part of a shared pathophysiology preventing escape from mitochondrial dysfunction.
¶¶Òõapp Therapeutics mtH2SD approach reverses such mitochondrial dysfunction, enabling us to overcome mitochondrial-driven disease states which lead to muscle weakness, muscle wasting, cognitive deficit and neurodegeneration.
- Professor Matt Whiteman PhD, CSO
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The ideal mitochondrial medicine mechanism of action should:
• Restore mitochondrial function by modulating key mitochondrial metabolic transactivators which are under-activated in the target disease
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• Simultaneously act at epigenetic, transcriptional and post-translational levels
• Be subject to safe enzymatic release within the mitochondria, avoiding rapid, abiotic or systemic releaseâ€
¶¶Òõapp Therapeutics' proprietary technology exploits an endogenous mechanism which mediates sulfide-signaling, having the effect of substrate replenishment in states of trans-sulfuration deficiency omnipresent in several diseases and certain medical conditions, resulting in the restoration of adaptive metabolism.
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While sulfide is rapidly metabolised, our products are potent and highly targeted, resulting in small and safe doses.
Pipeline
our talents
¶¶Òõapp Therapeutics' mission is to develop new cardiometabolic medicines delivering a better quality of weight loss than standard-of-care by targeting a completely new mechanism of action modulating mitochondrial metabolism. Â
Our strong team has previously co-discovered five approved medicines and has co-invested significantly in the business.
Glyn was appointed Chairman of ¶¶Òõapp Therapeutics in February 2022. He is also non-executive director at OxSonics & Orthoson. Glyn previously served as CEO of Summit Therapeutics plc 2012-2020 where he restructured the business, took the company through a NASDAQ listing and took its Duchenne muscular dystrophy  (DMD) clinical development program through late-stage trials. Prior to joining Summit, he served as interim CEO of the BioIndustry Association (BIA), and as CEO at Antisoma plc, a biotech company specialising in the development of novel drugs for the treatment of cancer from 1998 to 2011. Glyn was awarded an MBE for his services to the biotechnology industry in 2006.
Over 25 years of global experience in business development, licensing, and strategic partnerships within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry with a successful track record of executing partnerships and fundraising. Senior BD roles at industry leaders such as Bayer and Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he led European business development, and Almirall, where he led BD and external innovation and licensing. Dr. Gaal also serves as CFO and Head of Business Development at Circio Holding ASA. Research and science training at University of California, Berkeley
20 years in industry including business development for Takeda Pharma, VC deal sourcing for LSP.vc, successfully advising Ducentis BioTherapeutics on fundraising. Tranformative decade as spin-out CEO of leading biotech network OBN/BioTrinity. PKD patient charity trustee. Researched metabolic engineering at Oxford.
Supporting ¶¶Òõapp strategic medchem and external relations. Independent medchem and drug discovery consultant supporting investors, biotech and pharma since 2018 following a 30-year career at GSK as a Senior Research Director
Co-founder of Mission Therapeutics with 25 years’ industry experience including Sanofi, Hybrigenics and KuDOS/ AZ, with a track record in early-stage discovery and development spanning many therapeutic fields.
Co-founder of ¶¶Òõapp Therapeutics leading IP strategy. Experienced leader in biotech IP, skilled in patent law, technology evaluation and competitive intelligence. Previously Head of IP at Adaptimmune ($ADAP). Pharmacologist with 28 years industry experience who has taken two drugs from bench to market at TopoTarget (now Onxeo), research training at Yale and Cornell.
Qualified and experienced FD with venture-backed company experience. Venture fundraising track record securing significant funding rounds and aligning financial strategies to support organisational growth and clinical programs, M&A including reverse takeover and IPO-readiness, including £40m Series A at Oxular biotech and subsequent trade sale to Regeneron (2024).
Co-founder of ¶¶Òõapp Therapeutics. Experienced and highly skilled medicinal chemist trained within the Whiteman and Wood Labs at the University of Exeter, specialized in the synthesis and in vitro testing of new mitochondrial-targeted hydrogen sulfide-releasing compounds with over 30 publications already including conference presentations.
30 years' experience developing clinical strategies and alliance management with UCB, ProSensa, Parexel and Abbott including over a decade consulting to innovative biotechs, including significant experience in NMD.
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Consultant with 20 years experience in pharma at companies such as Adaptimmune, Syntaxin (now part of Ipsen), Amphista, Grey Wolf, Cardinal Health and Patheon. Expertise in discovery, preclinical, clinical and commercial preparedness programmes.
Professor of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Exeter Medical School. Previous positions include Associate Professor and Assistant Dean, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (2000  - 2007) and visiting professor (Physiology, 2018). Other visiting professorships / scholar include the University of Christchurch, (New Zealand; 2006) and Siriraj Hospital / Mahidol University (Thailand, 2018).  Grant awards totally £6m for mitochondrial rescue of disease. > 20 years’ experience of redox biochemistry and pharmacology. 180 + publications, H-index = 80.
Senior Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, University of Exeter. 25 years experience in sulfur heterocyclic chemistry in academia and industry, including GlaxoWellcome Fellow and Tutor in Organic Chemistry, University of Oxford.
