Sisu Pharma's HI-LiTe platform has the unique ability to directly target the transcription factor Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF1). HSF1 is a higly validated, desirable drug target with roles in cancer, neurodegenerative disease and infections ( >1100 publications, >50 clinical trials).

Historically is has been considered “undruggable” due to its largely disordered structure. Consequently it has been indirectly targeted by developing inhibitors of HSF1 downstream targets (Hsp90, Hsp70) or through phenotypic screens which have led to discovery of compounds with broad or unknown mechanisms of action.

Sisu's HI-LiTe platform directly targets HSF1, discovers and develops compounds that bind directly to the protein. Sisu compounds selectively bind to active HSF1 and downregulate (degraders) and upregulate (activators) its activity.