BARPA

BAR Pharmaceuticals is an Italian biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule modulators of bile acid receptors, specifically the Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the G-protein coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1/TGR5). A spin-off from the University of Perugia, the company leverages deep expertise in bile acid chemistry to target metabolic and inflammatory disorders of the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Its lead candidates include BAR501, a selective GPBAR1 agonist, and BAR502, a dual FXR/GPBAR1 agonist, which are being investigated for indications such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The company's research also extends to microbial-derived bile acid metabolites that act as dual GPBAR1 agonists and RORγt inverse agonists to modulate intestinal immunity.