Lysoway Therapeutics

Lysoway Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2020 that focuses on the biology of lysosomal ion channel diseases. The company was co-founded by CEO Yongchang Qiu, a biotech veteran, and Professor Haoxing Xu of the University of Michigan and Zhejiang University, a leading researcher in lysosomal biology. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lysoway Therapeutics is developing small-molecule modulators designed to target lysosomal ion channels, such as TRPML1 and TMEM175.

The company's core technology involves creating compounds that can restore lysosomal function. Lysosomes are cellular organelles responsible for breaking down and recycling waste materials; their dysfunction is a known factor in several neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. By modulating ion channels, Lysoway's small-molecule agents aim to restore the autophagy/lysosomal pathway, which helps clear toxic cellular waste and is often disrupted in pathological conditions. This approach is intended to provide therapeutic benefits for patients with conditions like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other rare diseases characterized by the accumulation of cellular waste.

Lysoway Therapeutics operates on a business model centered around drug discovery and development, advancing its pipeline of novel therapies toward clinical trials. The company has successfully raised $22 million in Series A financing, with lead investors including Highlight Capital, 3E Bioventures, and Oceanpine Capital. Additionally, it has secured research grants from The Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Silverstein Foundation to advance its preclinical programs, particularly for Parkinson's disease. A grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for $2.93 million is intended to support the preclinical development of its lead TRPML1 agonist, with the goal of initiating first-in-human clinical trials in early 2026.

Keywords: neurodegenerative diseases, lysosomal ion channels, small molecule modulators, Parkinson's disease, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical, TRPML1, TMEM175, autophagy, lysosomal storage disorders, metabolic disorders, therapeutics, Haoxing Xu, Yongchang Qiu, preclinical models, GBA-deficient Parkinson's, brain-penetrant agonist, cellular homeostasis, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Silverstein Foundation