Developing antibody medicines for inherited and acquired bleeding disorders
Excessive breakdown of von Willebrand factor, a blood-clotting protein, can cause severe bleeding. This affects people with certain inherited disorders and patients using mechanical heart pumps. Recurrent bleeding can lead to anemia, transfusions and frequent hospitalizations.
Hemastatx is developing HMX-001, an antibody designed to block ADAMTS13, the enzyme that breaks down von Willebrand factor. Its preclinical programme aims to preserve this clotting protein and prevent bleeding in inherited and acquired disorders.
What stands out about Hemastatx
Demonstrated HMX-001 target engagement and preservation of HMW VWF multimers in disease models and ex vivo assays.
Source ↗Secured pre-seed funding from BaseLaunch, Gemma Frisius Fund and Butterfly Fund in 2025.
Source ↗Founded in 2025 as a KU Leuven spin-off, building on thrombosis research led by Karen Vanhoorelbeke.
Source ↗Selected by BaseLaunch for support in developing its antibody programme for severe bleeding disorders.
Source ↗Co-founded by Shannen Deconinck, whose PhD and postdoctoral work focused on ADAMTS13 antibody therapy for bleeding.
Source ↗Co-founder Shannen Deconinck received KU Leuven’s Da Vinci award for her research on ADAMTS13 antibody therapy.
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