POWER OF ATTORNEY



  We, the undersigned, under the authority granted to each of us to sign jointly on

behalf of Novartis AG, hereby grant powers to Bartosz Dzikowski, Stephan Sandmeier, Marc

Ceulemans, Anja Konig, Florian Muellershausen, Beat Steffen, and Florent Gros and constitute

and appoint any two of them jointly as our true and lawful attorneys and representatives and to

act on our behalf and to sign filings to be made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange

Commission (the "SEC") relating to the shares of Aerpio Therapeutics, Inc. held by Novartis

Bioventures Ltd, an indirect subsidiary of Novartis AG, as required by the SEC (the "SEC

Filings"), and to undertake and carry out all tasks and formalities on our behalf which may be

required in connection with giving effect to the SEC Filings.



  We, the undersigned, undertake to ratify and confirm whatever our true and

lawful attorneys do or purport to do in good faith in the exercise of any power conferred by this

Power of Attorney.



  We, the undersigned, declare that a person who deals with our true and lawful

attorneys in good faith may accept a written statement signed by such attorneys to the effect that

this Power of Attorney has not been revoked as conclusive evidence of that fact.



  The authority granted by this Power of Attorney shall expire immediately after the

date on which the SEC Filings are no longer required.



  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney is duly signed on this 12th

day of July 2018.



      Novartis AG



      By: /s/ Jean-Baptiste Emery

      Name: Jean-Baptiste Emery

      Title: Authorized Signatory



      By: /s/ Felix Eichhorn

      Name: Felix Eichhorn

      Title: Authorized Signatory