Xeptiva Therapeutics

Xeptiva Therapeutics is a biotechnology company headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay, with operations in the USA, focused on the development of immunotherapies for the veterinary market. The company was co-founded in 2021 by CEO Josefina Correa and CSO Emiliano Trías. This venture was the culmination of nearly a decade of research in neurodegeneration and chronic neuroinflammation at the Neurodegeneration Laboratory of the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, where Trías was a key researcher. Correa, a bio-entrepreneur, returned to Uruguay after living in the United States and partnered with the scientists to commercialize their work.

The company's primary business is developing therapeutic vaccines to improve the quality of life and extend the longevity of companion animals suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases. Xeptiva is targeting a market estimated at $5 billion. Its business model involves in-house research and development, conducting clinical trials, and then seeking licensing agreements with large animal health biotechnology companies for commercialization and large-scale production. The company has secured intellectual property protection for its developments, with government grant support from Uruguay's National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII) to cover patenting costs in Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

Xeptiva's product pipeline includes therapies for chronic conditions. The two lead products, currently in clinical trials, are a vaccine for chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis and another for atopic dermatitis in dogs. These therapeutic vaccines are designed for long-term efficacy, requiring a single dose every six months after an initial protocol, offering a more accessible and affordable alternative to existing treatments. The company has successfully produced its first industrial batch of the osteoarthritis vaccine (Xep01) for clinical trials. Other products in earlier stages of development target chronic pain in felines and horses, as well as obesity in dogs. In August 2024, Xeptiva announced the closure of a $2.5 million seed funding round to advance its clinical trials and move closer to regulatory approval, which is anticipated for 2025. The round was led by Zentynel Frontier Investments and included participation from iThink VC, FEN Ventures, ND Latam, Uruguay Biotech Ventures, and angel investor Sergio Fogel.

Keywords: veterinary immunotherapies, animal health biotechnology, companion animal health, chronic pain in dogs, canine atopic dermatitis, osteoarthritis treatment for pets, therapeutic vaccines for animals, pet healthcare, veterinary clinical trials, animal inflammation, feline chronic pain, equine health, drug development for pets, Montevideo biotech, Zentynel Frontier Investments, Josefina Correa, Emiliano Trías, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, veterinary medicine, animal pharmaceuticals