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Encouraging Progress In Our Dupuytren’s Research

Ken Lipson, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Ventoux Biosciences, reviewing human tissue sample tubes with academic research partners during the ex vivo pilot study.

Encouraging Results, Why it matters

We have now studied VEN-201 in human Dupuytren’s tissue from several individual donors, and the early results are genuinely encouraging. Across these samples, VEN-201 has shown consistent signs of acting on the biological processes that drive the disease, exactly the direction we hoped to see.

What gives us particular confidence is that consistency. Seeing the same direction of effect across tissue from different people, despite the natural variation from one person to the next, is an important early signal that we may be engaging the true drivers of the disease rather than seeing a one-off result. It is still early, and there is real work ahead before this reaches patients, but this is the kind of human-anchored evidence that strengthens our conviction and helps open doors with research and funding partners. Out of respect for the scientific process, we are sharing these findings at a high level for now, with more detail to follow as the work matures.

Ken Lipson, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Ventoux Biosciences, reviewing human tissue sample tubes with academic research partners during the ex vivo pilot study.
Ken Lipson, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Ventoux Biosciences, in the lab with academic research partners for the ex vivo human tissue Dupuytren’s pilot study.

What comes next?

Our focus now is to build on these findings: studying additional donor tissue to further test what we are seeing, deepening our understanding of how VEN-201 works, and advancing the preparation needed to move toward a first clinical study. Each of these steps brings us closer to testing VEN-201 in patients, and each one depends on continued support.

When Can I join a study?

This is the question closest to my own heart and the one I receive the most from fellow patients. Our current estimate is roughly 18 months to a first clinical study, and reaching that milestone depends heavily on funding.

Here is the honest part. Dupuytren’s affects millions of people, yet it has long been underfunded for how common and life-altering it is, and today’s climate is especially hard for early-stage research. Many investors now wait to commit until a therapy is already being tested in humans, which leaves promising pre-clinical programs like ours in a real gap. We are pushing hard to reach that in-human stage, and it is truly within sight. That final stretch is where community support matters most. Any and all help, whether you run with me, donate, or invest, moves us from promising science into the clinic and closer to the day patients can join a study.

Ways to support the mission

There are three ways to be part of this, whichever fits you best:

Run with Me. This October I am running the 25k at the Lake Hodges Trail Festival in San Diego and I would love for you to join our team and run with me. Our team name is the Dupuytren’s & Ledderhose Run Collective, more info below. 

Donate. If you would rather cheer from the sidelines (near or far), every dollar donated does directly to our Dupuytren’s research at Ventoux Biosciences. Please donate and / or share with fellow patients impacted by this disease. 

Invest. We have a crowdfunding campaign now open and anyone can invest. WeFunder is a regulated investment crowdfunding platform where everyday investors can invest in Ventoux and receive equity, an ownership stake in the company, rather than making a donation. Investment minimum is $100. 

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I am running 25k to raise funds for Dupuytren's research
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