In today’s complex biomedical landscape, the search for therapies that are both potent and precise is the cornerstone of pharmaceutical innovation. At Glucox Biotech, we believe we’re on the cusp of a transformative breakthrough—by targeting a single, under recognized enzyme: NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4).

Unlike traditional metabolic enzymes, NOX4 doesn’t build molecules or store energy. Instead, it produces reactive oxygen species (ROS)—primarily hydrogen peroxide—in a highly consistent, regulated manner. Under normal physiological conditions, this function helps cells adapt to environmental stress. But in chronic and acute pathologies—such as diabetic retinopathy, ischemic stroke, and acute kidney injury—NOX4 becomes overactive, fueling inflammation, fibrosis, and cell death.

The NOX4 target has been genetically validated in knockout mouse models. The absence of NOX4 doesn’t impair survival or development in controlled laboratory environments—implying that selective inhibition is not only feasible, but safe.

Pathological overexpression has been studied across a range of disease models, elevated NOX4 activity correlates with oxidative damage, tissue dysfunction, and poor clinical outcomes.

There is important therapeutic selectivity. Unlike broader antioxidants that indiscriminately quench ROS, NOX4 inhibition offers a targeted approach—silencing a key source of pathological oxidative stress while preserving normal redox signaling.

Our primary breakthrough Candidate is GLX7013114

At Glucox Biotech, we’ve developed highly selective NOX4 inhibitors—such as GLX7013114—which have demonstrated compelling efficacy in preclinical models. In diabetic retinopathy, for instance, GLX7013114 reduced oxidative stress, preserved retinal structure, and maintained neuronal function when applied as simple eye drops. In models of ischemic stroke and acute kidney injury, it significantly decreased tissue damage following reperfusion.

Our pharmaceutical philosophy is clear: restore metabolic harmony without silencing the entire orchestra. We use local delivery, timed intervention, and adjusted liver-metabolized stability to fine-tune NOX4 inhibition, ensuring both efficacy and safety. By intervening at the molecular root of disease rather than downstream symptoms, we believe NOX4 inhibition represents a platform approach to treating a wide array of chronic and acute conditions driven by oxidative stress.

Dive deeper into the science, strategy, and supporting data behind Glucox Biotech’s NOX inhibitor pipeline.