XEN501

XEN501 is an experimental small molecule drug candidate developed by Xenon Pharmaceuticals, primarily investigated for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. It functions as an inhibitor of Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), an enzyme responsible for the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids from saturated fatty acids. Xenon Pharmaceuticals' SCD1 program, which included XEN501 and the more advanced candidate XEN103, was designed to address dyslipidemia and related metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Although XEN501 was part of Xenon's early pipeline, its development has been inactive for several years, and it is currently considered a dormant or discontinued asset. It is important to distinguish XEN501 from XEN-D0501, which is a TRPV1 antagonist developed by Pila Pharma for different indications.