Company: HCWB
Filing Date: 2025-03-28
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000950170-25-046724
Chunk: 11

Company: HCW Biologics Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-03-28
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1
Chunk 11
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 system against inflammation allowing for the potential to treat a wide variety of autoimmune and proinflammatory diseases.  Our approach is to develop immunotherapies that reduce or eliminate the main drivers of chronic inflammation by addressing the underlying development and sustainment of these processes, as depicted in the image below: 

The Science of Chronic Inflammation

While inflammation is part of the normal repair response for healing, when it becomes prolonged and persists, it is damaging and destructive. Several common molecular pathways have been identified that are associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, especially common as we age. Our view is that there are two primary underlying processes that drive chronic inflammation: accumulation of senescent cells and persistent activation of immune cells . Both of these processes generate pro-inflammatory factors that drive senescence.  

The induction and retention of low-grade inflammation in an aging human body is mainly the result of the accumulation of non-proliferative but metabolically active senescent cells, which can also be caused by persistent activation of immune cells. These two elements share common mechanisms in promoting secretion of pro-inflammatory proteins and in many cases interact to drive senescence, and thus, inflammaging. Our novel approach is to reduce senescent cells and eliminate the pro-inflammatory factors they secrete systemically through multiple pathways. We believe our novel immunotherapeutic approach has the potential to fundamentally change the treatment of age-related diseases.

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Senescent cells remain metabolically active and can influence tissue hemostasis, disease, and aging through their SASP factors. Senescence is considered to be a physiologic process and is important in promoting wound healing, tissue homeostasis, regeneration, and regulation of fibrosis. Senescence also plays a role in tumor suppression. The accumulation of senescent cells, due to the aging of our immune cells, drives aging and age-related diseases and conditions. The SASP factors can trigger chronic inflammatory responses and consequently augment chronic inflammatory conditions to promote tumor growth. The connection between senescence and aging was initially based on the observation that senescent cells accumulate in aged tissue. The use of transgenic models has enabled the detection of senescent cells systematically in many age-related disorders. Studies have demonstrated that senescent cells play an adverse role in age-related disorders.

By leveraging our immunology expertise, we are developing potentially transformative immunotherapy candidates that use Treg cell expansion and senescent cell reduction to address chronic inflammation linked especially to age-related diseases. Our approach is to develop immunotherapies that reduce