heqIX Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing heat shock protein (Hsp) modulators for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, with an initial focus on Parkinson's disease. The company's name combines "heat shock" (Hsp) with the Roman numeral IX (nine), reflecting its focus on Hsp90 and the company's mission to protect neurons through protein homeostasis enhancement["@heqix_corp"].
The company was founded based on research from Harvard Medical School showing that Hsp90 inhibition can protect neurons from alpha-synuclein toxicity by upregulating the Hsp70 chaperone system and promoting clearance of toxic aggregates.
Scientific Rationale
Heat Shock Proteins in Neurodegeneration
Heat shock proteins are molecular chaperones that play critical roles in protein folding, quality control, and clearance. In neurodegenerative diseases, the proteostasis network becomes overwhelmed, leading to accumulation of misfolded proteins like [alpha-synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein) in Parkinson's disease[@hsp90_parkinsons].
Key findings:
Hsp90 is overactive in PD brains — maintains toxic protein aggregates
Hsp90 inhibition releases Hsp70 to clear aggregates[@blanda2015]
Hsp70 induction is neuroprotective in multiple PD models
Combined Hsp90/Hsp70 modulation provides superior protection[@fujita2018]
[Hsp90 inhibitors in Parkinson's disease: neuroprotection through protein homeostasis, Nat Rev Drug Discov (2021)](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41573-021-00244-5)
[Blanda J, et al. Hsp90 inhibition protects neurons from alpha-synuclein toxicity, Nat Chem Biol (2015)](https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.1818)
[Fujita K, et al. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in neurodegeneration, J Neurosci Res (2018)](https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.24214)
See Also
[Heat Shock Protein Pathway](/mechanisms/hsp70-hsp90-chaperone-pathway-parkinsons)