Helex: Pioneering Targeted Medicines for Genetic Kidney Diseases

Helex is a therapeutics startup focused on creating innovative targeted treatments for genetic kidney diseases. The company has successfully secured $3.5 million in a seed funding round led by pi Ventures, with additional investments from Bluehill Capital, SOSV, and a global consortium of investors. With this latest funding, Helex has achieved a total funding amount exceeding $6 million to date. The funds will be allocated to expedite the development of its lead candidate for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) and advance its platform aimed at building a unique portfolio of kidney therapeutics, according to an announcement from Helex.

About Helex

Founded in 2021 by Poulami Chaudhuri, Rohini Kalvakuntla, and Anirudh Nishtala, Helex is dedicated to developing a novel class of targeted medicines for genetic kidney diseases through its proprietary LNP (Lipid Nanoparticle) drug delivery and AI-driven drug design platforms.

Incubated at ASPIRE-BioNEST at the University of Hyderabad, Helex strives to transform the treatment landscape for chronic and rare kidney disorders by creating programmable, non-viral LNP therapeutics that effectively deliver genetic materials directly to kidney cells.

Advanced Technology for Kidney Therapeutics

Helex claims that its innovative platform leverages data-driven deep learning models that utilize its unique genomics data, bioinformatics, and high-throughput sequencing information from gene-edited target cells. This approach facilitates the creation, validation, and delivery of disease-specific gRNA (guide RNA).

Focus on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Helex’s primary focus is on Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), a hereditary condition impacting over 12 million individuals worldwide and affecting nearly 5% of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients in India. The company aims to significantly alter the course of this disease with a single-dose, non-viral, gene-editing therapy that has the potential to halt or dramatically slow disease progression.