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Zula Therapeutics was established with a singular focus: to transform the treatment landscape for anorexia nervosa, bringing the first effective medication to patients and families who have long waited for better options.
Zula Therapeutics was established with a singular focus: to transform the treatment landscape for anorexia nervosa, bringing the first effective medication to patients and families who have long waited for better options.
Born from groundbreaking research on leptin's role in eating disorders, our company was founded to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and patient care. We recognized the potential of leptin replacement to address the underlying metabolic and psychiatric aspects of anorexia nervosa, and we've dedicated ourselves to making this treatment accessible.
As a public benefit corporation, we're committed to both scientific excellence and social impact, ensuring that our therapies reach those who need them most.
Our Long-Acting Leptin
Our Long-Acting Leptin
Clinicians in Germany and Switzerland have treated patients with anorexia nervosa with off-label metreleptin, with improvements in mood and cognitions within days. Zula is developing a long-acting leptin for anorexia nervosa, dosed once weekly and designed to address the immunogenicity of metreleptin. Zula holds an exclusive license and agreements for the intellectual property covering the molecule and its use in anorexia nervosa. As a public benefit corporation, we are committed to making it accessible to patients and families.
University Research Collaborations
University Research Collaborations
Our work builds on groundbreaking research from University of Duisburg-Essen and University of Zurich, where early studies of metreleptin in anorexia nervosa patients have shown promising results. We license the patents for this use and continue to maintain strong relationships with these academic pioneers as we advance our clinical program.
Mount Sinai Collaboration
Mount Sinai Collaboration
Mount Sinai's Center, under the direction of Dr. Tom Hildebrandt, PsyD, FAED, brings world-class expertise in eating disorder treatment and clinical trials. Through this collaboration, we will:
Design clinical trials of Zula's long-acting leptin for anorexia nervosa
Leverage Mount Sinai's comprehensive approach to patient care
Accelerate the development timeline through combined expertise and resources
Ensure that clinical protocols reflect real-world patient needs
The Mount Sinai Center provides comprehensive care for conditions including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Their outpatient-care model offers a family-centric approach that has shown a 70-80% success rate at halting the revolving door of recidivism.
Leadership Team
Leadership Team
Dan Housman - Co-founder & CSO, Zula Therapeutics
Serial entrepreneur with deep expertise in healthcare analytics and drug development. Founded and led Recombinant Data Corp. (acquired by Deloitte) and served as Managing Director in Deloitte's Healthcare and Life Sciences practice. BS in Chemistry and Biology from MIT. Dan also serves on the Board of Directors at Courage Therapeutics. His personal connection to eating disorders as a parent of children with AN and ARFID drives his commitment to advancing new treatments
Dawn Bardot, PhD - Co-founder & CEO, Zula Therapeutics
Medical product executive with extensive experience driving AI-enabled medical products from concept through global commercialization. Most recently served as General Manager at Johnson & Johnson (Abiomed), leading a $60M global organization. Previously held leadership roles at Medtronic and the Medical Device Innovation Consortium, where she established key FDA partnerships and frameworks for digital evidence. PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Washington.
Johannes Hebebrand, MD - Scientific Advisor & Inventor, Zula Therapeutics
Pioneer of leptin research in anorexia nervosa and co-inventor of Zula's licensed patents. Recently retired from his position at the University of Duisburg-Essen, where he conducted groundbreaking research on leptin's role in eating disorders. Brings invaluable clinical expertise and plays a key leadership role in advancing the therapeutic program.
Tom Hildebrandt, PsyD - Director, Mount Sinai's Center of Excellence in Eating and Weight Disorders
Extensive clinical expertise in eating disorder treatment and research. Scientific advisor to Zula, bringing decades of experience in treating anorexia nervosa and running clinical trials.
About Zula Therapeutics
About Zula Therapeutics
Established in 2024, Zula Therapeutics represents an innovative approach to solving one of medicine's most challenging problems: developing affordable treatments for serious conditions like anorexia nervosa that have been overlooked by traditional pharmaceutical development.
By creating Zula as a Public Benefit Corporation spun out from Courage Therapeutics, we've designed an organization optimally structured to deliver on our mission.
This specialized focus has already yielded results: Zula has secured an exclusive license to the University of Duisburg-Essen's issued US patent for leptin treatment of anorexia nervosa and built a groundbreaking partnership with Mount Sinai's Center of Excellence in Eating and Weight Disorders.
Our unique structure as a Public Benefit Corporation ensures we never lose sight of our core purpose: "To expedite access to affordable medical products in order to serve patients with unmet needs." For the millions suffering from anorexia nervosa and their families, this mission-driven approach offers the best path to developing the first FDA-approved medication for this life-threatening condition.
Zula Therapeutics, Inc.
82 Wendell Ave
STE 100
Pittsfield, MA, 01201, USA
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