8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 27, 2022

Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-36856	46-2783806
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization)	File Number)	Identification No.)

399 Thornall Street, First Floor

Edison, NJ 08837

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (732) 902-4000

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class:	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered:
Common Stock	HEPA	Nasdaq Capital Market

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨   Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Chief Medical Officer, Todd Hobbs, MD gave a clinical presentation entitled “Recofilstat (CRV431): A liver-targeting drug candidate for NASH and HCC” on May 27, 2022 at the 5^th Global NASH Congress. A copy of the presentation materials is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and a copy of the press release announcing the presentation is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and each is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Item 7.01 and the documents attached as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 are being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), nor otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01 (d) Exhibits	Financial Statements and Exhibits
99.1	Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Corporate Presentation
99.2	Press Release of Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

-2-

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: May 27, 2022

HEPION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:	/s/ Robert Foster
	Robert Foster
	Chief Executive Officer

-3-

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

1 1 Rencofilstat (CRV431): A liver-targeting drug candidate for NASH and HCC Todd M. Hobbs MD – CMO May 27, 2022 smart drug smart technology smart development

2 Complex and Associated Diseases The Challenges New approaches to developing NASH and HCC therapeutics are needed NASH • No FDA drugs approved • Traditional metabolism-regulating drugs largely not efficacious • Multifactorial disease processes – metabolism, inflammation, fibrosis HCC • Poor prognosis and rising incidence from NASH • Tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) approved, but outcomes still poor • NASH restricts responses to ICIs 2

3 Cornerstones of Drug Development For Complex Diseases Hepion’s Strategy PLEIOTROPIC DRUG ACTIONS SAFE, ORAL ONCE DAILY DOSING EXTENSIVE PRECLINICAL TESTING BIOINFORMATICS / AI Targeting multiple disease mechanisms maximizes the opportunity to reverse complex diseases such as NASH and HCC Oral medications with few side effects and derived from proven drug classes offer several advantages as stand-alone and combination therapies Positive outcomes from diverse preclinical animal and laboratory studies increases the likelihood of translating success to clinical trials Analysis of large data sets – transcriptomics, lipidomics, proteomics – to understand disease processes and develop personalized medicine strategies

4 Rencofilstat Drug Candidate for NASH and HCC • Non-Immunosuppressive Cyclophilin inhibitor – new drug class • Once-daily, oral medication – soft gel capsules • No serious adverse effects • Liver targeting: [liver] > [blood] • Pleiotropic activities in preclinical models of NASH, liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) • Clinical Studies – 159 subjects dosed successfully • Phase 2 NASH and HCC programs – to be initiated, Q3, 2022 Rencofilstat

5 Rencofilstat Inhibition of Three Primary Cyclophilins in NASH Rencofilstat blocks Cyclophilin A binding to CD147 receptors and thereby decreases pro-inflammatory signaling Rencofilstat blocks Cyclophilin B binding to pro-collagen fibrils and thereby decreases formation and secretion of fibrotic collagen Rencofilstat blocks Cyclophilin D activation of mitochondrial membrane pores and thereby decreases cell death in injured livers ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ANTI-FIBROTIC CYTOPROTECTIVE

6 Extensive Testing in Disease Models Preclinical Studies ANIMAL MODELS (mice and rats) TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH • 8 NASH-related studies - diet and/or chemical-induced liver disease • 4 HCC-related studies - spontaneous tumors and transplant tumor models • 2 diabetes-related studies • 1 acute renal injury study • 1 acute lung injury study • 1 chronic lung fibrosis study • Human LIVER slices (tumor-adjacent fibrosis) • Human LUNG slices (pulmonary fibrosis) • Human blood platelets RENCOFILSTAT EFFECTS • Anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects across all animal and translational models • Consistent reductions in liver fibrosis by up to 80% • Decreases in liver tumour number and size • Decreases in weight gain and adiposity • Decreases in acute lung injury • Decreases in platelet activation • Alterations in lipidomic, metabolomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic signatures consistent with therapeutic effects

7 AI-POWR™ NEURAL NETWORK MACHINE LEARNING BIG DATA DEEP LEARNING MULTI-OMICS NASH Rencofilstat: Multiple Beneficial Properties and State-of-the-Art Artificial Intelligence Hepion’s Artificial Intelligence Understand disease mechanisms Identify biomarkers Track disease progression and regression Predict drug responders Precision medicine

8 Phase 2B 2022 Program Pre-Clinical Phase 1* Phase 2 Phase 3 NASH (biopsy) IND 142904 HCC IND 158432 NASH (liver function) IND 142904 Rencofilstat Clinical Programs Advancing in 2022 *The Phase 1 program was comprised of Single and Multiple Ascending Doses, and a Drug-Drug Interaction study. Phase 2 2022 Phase 2 2022 • HBV and COVID-19 INDs open to partnerships

9 PHASE 2A ‘AMBITION’ NASH TRIAL (completed)

10 OFF-TREATMENT OFF-TREATMENT OFF-TREATMENT OFF-TREATMENT NASH Subjects - Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics PHASE 2a ‘AMBITION’ NASH Study Primary Endpoints: • Safety • Tolerability • Pharmacokinetics Day 1 RANDOMIZATION Day 28 END OF TREATMENT Day 42 END OF TRIAL Rencofilstat 225 mg (n=17) Placebo (n=8) F2/F3 NASH Subjects (N=43) Fasted Once Daily Oral Dosing Day 29 Placebo (n=6) Rencofilstat 75 mg (n=12) AMBITION: A Phase 2a, Multi-center, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Proof of Concept Study to Evaluate the Safety & Tolerability of Rencofilstat Dosed Once Daily in NASH Induced F2 & F3 Subjects 10

11 Baseline Characteristics PHASE 2a ‘AMBITION’ NASH Study Click to add text Treatment 75mg Placebo 225mg Placebo All subjects N 15 6 17 9 47 Age, years 59.1 (9.9) 61.8 (8.7) 54 (13.3) 61.1 (13.8) 58.0 (11.94) Sex Female 8 53.33% 3 50% 10 58.82% 2 22.22% 23 48.94% Male 7 46.67% 3 50% 7 41.18% 7 77.78% 24 51.06% Ethnicity Hispanic or Latino 6 40% 3 50% 10 58.82% 6 66.67% 25 53.19% Not Hispanic or Latino 9 60% 3 50% 7 41.18% 3 33.33% 22 46.81% Race White 14 93.33% 5 83.33% 17 100% 9 100% 45 95.74% Unknown or Not Reported 1 6.67% 1 16.67% 0 0% 0 0% 2 4.26% BMI, (SD) kg/m2 37.1 (8.5) 36.1 (6.5) 37.7 (6.4) 39.2 (10.6) 37.57 (7.82) ALT, (SD) IU/L 62.5 (42.1) 75.8 (36.8) 39.3 (18.4) 52.9 (35.6) 51.46 (32.18) AST, (SD) IU/L 51.9 (35.3) 70.2 (40.1) 33.1 (14.3) 44.7 (36) 43.83 (27.71) Pro-C3, (SD) ng/mL 23.15 (6.88) 23.19 (10.55) 19.94 (9.07) 18.56 (5.84) 22.70 (12.44) ELF Score, (SD) 10.3 (0.8) 10.1 (0.4) 9.8 (0.9) 9.7 (1.0) 10.0 (0.74) Fibroscan Fibrosis, (SD) kPa 21.8 (20.6) 18.8 (16.1) 23.0 (20.7) 13.6 (5.4)

12 No Serious Adverse Events Adequate Exposures Anticipated for Efficacy All Primary Endpoints Met – Safety, Tolerability, & Pharmacokinetics (‘PK’) 225 mg QD achieves maximum concentrations > 1000 ng/mL on Day 1 75 mg QD achieves maximum concentrations > 1000 ng/mL on Day 28 Response analysis suggests concentrations > 800 ng/mL by Day 14 are associated with clinically relevant reductions in ALT and ProC3 and changes in gene activity and lipids consistent with NASH resolution. 225 mg QD achieves effective concentrations after the first dose. NASH does not significantly alter Rencofilstat Concentrations

13 Clinical Efficacy Endpoints ALT Change from Baseline Pro-C3 Change from Baseline ≥ 17.5 ng/mL -Changes in ALT may indicate drug activity but alone not linked to fibrosis response Loomba, Rohit. "Serum alanine aminotransferase as a biomarker of treatment response in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis." Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 12.10 (2014): 1731-1732. -ProC3 emerging as biomarker indicative of fibrosis Boyle, Marie, et al. "Performance of the PRO-C3 collagen neo-epitope biomarker in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease." Jhep Reports 1.3 (2019): 188-198.

14 • Analysis limited by study duration and number of subjects Addition Exploratory Endpoints Collected: • ELF Score • No significant changes over 28 days • Fibroscan • Small reductions in both Fibrosis (kPa) and Steatosis (dB/m) endpoints for all groups over 28 days – not significant vs. placebo • AST • Reductions over 28 days for 75mg cohort • No change in 225mg cohort from lower baseline of 32 IU/L • Collagen Biomarkers (C1M, C3M, C4M, C6M, C7M and Pro-C8) • Reductions from baseline when stratified by Pro-C3 >15.0 ng/mL • Significant reduction seen in C6M for 225mg cohort

15 A1BG SDC2 MMP 23B FBN2 EMID1 LOXL1 SERP INB8 ORM1 ICAM1 VCAN CLEC3B PXDN HTRA1 F13A1 COCH COL9A2 COL4A3 EMILIN2 MMRN1 LAMB1 COL6AE LAMA5 ADAM9 LTBP1 TIMP2 COL 26A1 HRNR COLQ HSPG2 C1QB CLU ADAM 19 BCAM MXRA7 PLSCR1 PCSK6 BCHE N1D1 F5 FN1 FBN1 HGF PKLR NID2 COL3A1 LAMB2 LAMC1 IL2RA EGFL7 PLSCR4 USH2A MMP8 CLUL1 TMEM256-PLSCR3 PKM ACHE Gene Regulatory Network Clinical Collagen-Related collagen-containing extracellular matrix collagen binding collagen type IV trimer collagen type IX trimer collagen fibril organization collagen catabolic process Consistent antifibrotic effects observed in all preclinical and clinical models

16 PHASE 2B ‘ASCEND-NASH’ TRIAL (Q3 2022)

17 Primary Objective: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of once-daily 75mg, 150 mg, and 225 mg doses of Rencofilstat compared to placebo in subjects with biopsy proven NASH and stage 2 liver fibrosis (F2) / stage 3 liver fibrosis (F3) Phase 2b ASCEND-NASH F2/F3 NASH Patients (N=336) RANDOMIZED 1:1:1:1 Day 1 12 Months End of treatment Rencofilstat 225 mg qd (n=84) Placebo (n=84) Rencofilstat 150 mg qd (n=84) 13 Months End of trial Data to inform phase 3 trial patient selection and biomarkers for analysis. AI-POWRä identification of biomarkers of Rencofilstat response Off - treatment follow - up Rencofilstat 75 mg qd (n=84) Interim Analysis Interim Analysis • Power = 90% to distinguish each dose level • FDA feedback obtained – design is accepted

18 Primary Efficacy Endpoint: Superiority of Rencofilstat (75mg, 150 mg, 225 mg) compared to placebo on liver histology at month 12 relative to the screening biopsy, by assessing the proportion of subjects with improvement in fibrosis by at least 1 stage (NASH CRN system) OR NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis Secondary Efficacy Endpoints: Superiority of Rencofilstat (75mg, 150 mg, 225 mg) compared to placebo on histology at month 12 relative to screening by assessing: Proportion of subjects with improvement in fibrosis by at least 1 stage (NASH CRN system), regardless of effect on NASH • Proportion of subjects with improvement in fibrosis by at least 2 stages (NASH CRN system), regardless of effect on NASH • Proportion of subjects with improvement in fibrosis by at least 2 stages (NASH CRN system) AND no worsening of NASH. By at least 1 stage regardless of the effect on NASH Phase 2b ASCEND-NASH Endpoints

19 • CRO selected with deep NASH experience • Design finalized with 336 subjects • Three rencofilstat doses and matched placebo arm (84 subjects/arm) • 125 sites selected to target a 12-14 month recruitment • Final country selection: US, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Hungary • F4 cohort will be studied in a separate trial • Robust liver biopsy process in place • Numerous CMC challenges overcome ASCEND-NASH Many Ongoing Activities Occurring Ahead of FPFV

20 • DSMB with extensive NASH experience in place • Hepion blinded from results until DBL • Safety review for any signals and at each of two planned interim analyses • First Efficacy Interim Analysis – After 34 subjects in each cohort (136) pass day 180 visit and have Non-invasive Measures (NIM) available o NIM include: MRE, Fibroscan, ALT/AST, Pro-C3, ELF score, CK-18, APRI, NFS, FIB-4 o Each dose evaluated separately using NIM for efficacy in order to proceed • Second Interim Analysis – After 56 subjects in each cohort (224) complete day 365 (biopsy) – o Will allow for earlier look at histopathology ASCEND-NASH Interim Analysis plans

21 Number of Subjects: • Larger subject numbers allow for higher power for all three doses to better inform selection of a single dose in phase 3 Trial Length: • For fibrosis endpoint, minimum of 12 months is required by FDA • Shorter study may not allow enough time to observe drug effect on fibrosis endpoint • Shorter trials further confounded by placebo effect seen in first 4-6 weeks of trial Endpoints: • For phase 2, desire to keep both fibrosis and steatosis endpoints as options • May refine the primary endpoint for phase 3 based on these results • For EMA submission, both endpoints currently required Dose Selection: • Adding a middle dose (150 mg) will enable Hepion to take the lowest effective dose into phase 3, which improves overall supply costs Key Considerations Addressed in Phase 2B design Learnings from FDA and other programs applied

22 Biopsy Procedures: • Numerous trials impacted by high placebo rates and inconsistent reads from single pathologist • Hepion will employ a 2 pathologist read with a 3rd pathologist to resolve any differences • Additional H & E stained slides will be obtained to allow for increased review of tissue for ballooning, etc. Other Considerations: • With long recruitment and trial conduct for biopsy readout, interim analysis will add significant guidance to overall efficacy assessment at an earlier timepoint • AI PowerTM will be used to analyze results providing for a deeply enriched phase 3 program • Open labeled ‘ALTITUDE-NASH’ study to add additional information on rencofilstat’s impact on hepatic function Key Considerations Addressed in Phase 2B design (cont.) Learnings from FDA and other programs applied

23 PHASE 2 ‘ALTITUDE-NASH’ TRIAL (Q3 2022)

24 Nasdaq: HEPA Phase 2 ‘ALTITUDE-NASH’ (Liver Function Trial) F3 NASH Patients (N=60) RANDOMIZED 1:1:1 Day 1 (Shunt + Labs) Day 120 End of treatment (Shunt + Labs) Rencofilstat 225 mg qd (n=20) Rencofilstat 150 mg qd (n=20) Off - treatment Rencofilstat 75 mg qd (n=20) Day 134 Follow-Up Endpoints: • Efficacy: • HepQuant • NASH NIMs • Safety/Tolerability • Pk Day 60 (Shunt + Labs) • Subjects identified from historical biopsy or by meeting AGILE 3+ criteria for F3 • Subjects who complete study will be considered for enrollment into ASCEND-NASH 2b Primary Objective: Evaluate the change in hepatic function with once daily (QD) 75 mg, 150 mg, and 225 mg doses of rencofilstat in subjects with NASH F3 fibrosis using the HepQuant SHUNT test.

25 Nasdaq: HEPA HepQuant Shunt Test: An Accurate Measure of Liver Function

26 Nasdaq: HEPA HepQuant’s products are not FDA-approved and are for investigational use only in clinical trials under FDA IDE guidelines. 26 HepQuant DSI Links Liver Dysfunction to Risk for Clinical Outcome DSI, HepQuant’s proprietary disease severity index HepQuant Research suggests that As Liver Function decreases And the DSI Increases The Risk for Complications and Negative Outcomes Increases Studies Completed in: Hep C | NAFLD/NASH | Advanced CLD/Cirrhosis | PSC | HCC | Polycystic Liver Disease SVR in HCV | Liver Transplant | MELD Scores | Portal Hypertension | Varices Liver Disease as a Consequence of Congenital Heart Disease (FONTAN)

27 Nasdaq: HEPA 27 Baseline Results for 1089 Subjects Tested in 26 Studies Lean Controls All Controls Controls/NPKD PLD minimal PSC Slow Progressors PLD massive HCV F0-F2 Mixed NonCirrh Port Hyp NASH & HCV F0-F2 NonCirrh HCV FONTAN NU Obese wo Liver Disease FONTAN PENN Mixed CP A NASH F3 NonCirrh HCV post-LTx NASH & HCV F3 F4 Mixed CP A Mixed CP A Port Hyp NASH CP A NASH CP A NASH CP A HCV CP A NASH CP A NASH CP A Mixed EGD for Var w kPa>15 HCV CP A MELD <10 PSC Rapid Progressors Mixed EGD Var CP A/B Mixed CP A kPa>15 Mixed CP B HCV CP A/B/C post-LTx Mixed CP A/B w HCC Mixed CP B Mixed CP C HCV CP B HCV CP B/C Each Bar / Whisker represents a set or subset of study subjects – spanning most common etiologies and stages of Chronic Liver Disease. (Data on File with HepQuant) – in every clinically-defined set or subset of subjects those with DSI above the mean would be at greater risk for complications or clinical outcome. DSI 18.3 DSI HepQuant’s Proprietary Disease Severity Index

28 PHASE 2A HCC TRIAL (Q2 2022)

29 Interim Analysis & Safety Review If ≤ 1 subject achieves DCR: May stop for futility OR If ≥ 2 subjects achieves DCR: Stage 2 Advanced HCC Subjects - Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics, and Efficacy PHASE 2a: HEPA-CRV431-209, Simon 2 Stage Design Day 1 RANDOMIZATION Week 16* END of STAGE 1 Week 52 END OF TRIAL Rencofilstat 150 mg (n=21) Rencofilstat 225mg (n=21) Fasted Once Daily Oral Dosing Rencofilstat 150 mg (n=8) Rencofilstat 225 mg (n=8) HEPA-CRV431-209: A Phase 2a, Open-Label, Multi-Center, Simon 2-Stage Clinical Study to Assess the Preliminary Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of 2 Dosage Levels of Rencofilstat in Advanced Metastatic Resistant or Refractory Hepatocellular Carcinoma Subjects 29 Stage 1: HCC Subjects (N=16) Stage 2: HCC Subjects (N=42 total) *Administration of Rencofilstat may continue until disease progression according to RECIST version 1.1 Efficacy & Safety Analyses • Tumour measurements • Incidence rates • Safety • Tolerability Inclusion Criteria: • Failure of standard first- or second-line systemic treatment(s) to include: disease progression and at least 1 untreated lesion Primary Endpoints: • Safety • Tolerability • Pharmacokinetics • Disease Control Rate

30 Two Value Drivers A Potential Therapy for NASH and HCC AI-Driven, Bioinformatic Platform Summary • Rencofilstat, once-daily oral, multi-modal • Phase 2a NASH trial completed with success • Phase 2 activities initiated for NASH • 12 - month paired biopsy 2B study • 4 - month hepatic function study • Phase 2a activities initiated for HCC • Hepion’s Proprietary Artificial Intelligence Platform (AI-POWR™) • Core scientific team with >100 years collective cyclophilin expertise • Core scientific team discovered and developed voclosporin (currently marketed) • Robust IP 30

CONTACT INFO: Todd M. Hobbs MD Chief Medical Officer Hepion Pharmaceuticals Inc. 399 Thornall Street, First Floor Edison, New Jersey, USA, 08837 Email: thobbs@hepionpharma.com www.hepionpharma.com

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

Hepion Pharmaceuticals Highlights Upcoming Phase 2 Clinical Trials of Recofilstat at 5^th Global NASH Congress

EDISON, N.J., May 27, 2022 - Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:HEPA), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)-driven therapeutic drug development for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (“NASH”) and hepatocellular carcinoma (“HCC”), announces that its Chief Medical Officer, Todd Hobbs, MD, gave a clinical presentation entitled “Recofilstat (CRV431): A liver-targeting drug candidate for NASH and HCC” today at the 5^th Global NASH Congress.

During the presentation, Dr. Hobbs reviewed additional data from the positive Phase 2a ‘AMBITION’ NASH clinical trial, and provided further details on three upcoming clinical studies of its lead drug candidate, rencofilstat:

· ASCEND-NASH: a 12-month Phase 2b clinical trial clinical trial in biopsy-proven F2/F3 NASH subjects

· ALTITUDE-NASH: a 4-month Phase 2 liver function trial in NASH F3 subjects

· HEPA-CRV431-209: a 4-month Simon Two-Stage Phase 2a study in HCC

The initiation of screening and enrollment in all three studies is currently expected to begin in the third quarter of 2022.

“We are very pleased to have been selected to share both the positive AMBITION study data and our upcoming clinical trial plans for rencofilstat in NASH and HCC with clinicians, researchers, and regulators at this prestigious and clinically focused NASH congress,” said Dr. Hobbs. “ The Hepion team has been hard at work over this past year preparing the clinical plans for these upcoming trials, and it is exciting to share details of these trials and look forward to when we soon begin to enroll subjects for all three.”

A copy of Dr. Hobbs’ presentation is accessible on the Company’s website at www.hepionpharma.com under “Publications” in the Pipeline section.

About Hepion Pharmaceuticals

The Company's lead drug candidate, rencofilstat, is a potent inhibitor of cyclophilins, which are involved in many disease processes. Rencofilstat is currently in clinical-phase development for the treatment of NASH, with the potential to play an important role in the overall treatment of liver disease - from triggering events through to end-stage disease. Rencofilstat has been shown to reduce liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma tumor burden in experimental models of NASH, and has demonstrated antiviral activities towards HBV, HCV, and HDV through several mechanisms, in nonclinical studies. In November 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) granted Fast Track designation for rencofilstat for the treatment of NASH. That was soon followed in December 2021 by the FDA’s acceptance of Hepion’s investigational new drug (IND) application for rencofilstat for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Hepion has created a proprietary AI platform, called AI-POWR^™, which stands for Artificial Intelligence - Precision Medicine; Omics (including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and lipidomics); World database access; and Response and clinical outcomes. Hepion intends to use AI-POWR^™ to help identify which NASH patients will best respond to rencofilstat, potentially shortening development timelines and increasing the delta between placebo and treatment groups. In addition to using AI-POWR^™ to drive its ongoing NASH clinical development program, Hepion intends to use the platform to identify additional potential indications for rencofilstat to expand the company's footprint in the cyclophilin inhibition therapeutic space.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimated,” and “intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Hepion Pharmaceuticals’ current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, substantial competition; our ability to continue as a going concern; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; risks associated with delays, increased costs and funding shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; uncertainties with respect to lengthy and expensive clinical trials, that results of earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future trial results; uncertainties of government or third party payer reimbursement; limited sales and marketing efforts and dependence upon third parties; and risks related to failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations. As with any drug candidates under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of new products. There are no guarantees that future clinical trials discussed in this press release will be completed or successful, or that any product will receive regulatory approval for any indication or prove to be commercially successful. Hepion Pharmaceuticals does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Hepion Pharmaceuticals’ Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Kilmer

Hepion Pharmaceuticals Investor Relations

Direct: (646) 274-3580

skilmer@hepionpharma.com

XML

Cover	May 27, 2022
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
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Document Period End Date	May 27, 2022
Entity File Number	001-36856
Entity Registrant Name	Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001583771
Entity Tax Identification Number	46-2783806
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	399 Thornall Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	First Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	Edison
Entity Address, State or Province	NJ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	08837
City Area Code	732
Local Phone Number	902-4000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	HEPA
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false