Video Transcript:
My name is Shalabh Gupta. I’m founder, CEO of Unicycive Therapeutics Inc. I would say if I were to summarize what I learned from having two different experiences, both as a physician as well as with the business and finance side, is, number one, that physicians are trying to do their very best for their patients and the number two, is that technology has to somehow fit into the workflow.
We saw an opportunity because we wanted to build a company that was focused on nephrology kidney diseases. 75% US population that is on dialysis, that’s roughly half a million patients every year do not achieve their phosphate control. I have talked to roughly 300+ kidney doctors. They all thought if there was a solution that can reduce pill burden, that will make a huge impact for their patients. Our lead drug offers a solution for something that really patients have struggled with.
I know as a physician, because when I prescribe a medicine to my patients, I can see what other medicines they’re taking. You create the best drug, you can ever imagine. If patients don’t take it, it wouldn’t help. So that in my mind is one big problem that we are solving. Our second drug, is a drug that works in mitochondria. Patients who come to a hospital for any cause, they can have acute kidney injury. We have no treatment available in 2023, the best thing we can do is to give them intravenous fluid, which is IV fluids if they’re dehydrated. But if they’re not dehydrated, the only thing can do is to just hope and pray.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we can find a way to treat these patients? And that is what our second drug does, has the potential to treat these patients. We are very compelled to bring this drug as quickly as possible to market. And again, there’s really nothing available for these patients. The bottom line is, it can help people, can help them save their life, but that is something we just never want to forget.