Hyku Biosciences

Executive Summary

Hyku Biosciences is a private biotechnology company pioneering a novel approach to small molecule therapeutics by covalently targeting non-cysteine amino acids—specifically histidine, tyrosine, and lysine—on disease-causing proteins. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in San Diego, the company aims to address limitations of traditional covalent drugs, including selectivity, druggability, and resistance. By expanding the chemical space beyond cysteine, Hyku seeks to unlock previously undruggable targets and develop treatments for difficult-to-treat diseases. The company’s platform leverages proprietary chemistry to enable precise covalent modification of less nucleophilic residues, potentially offering a competitive advantage in targeted protein degradation and inhibition. However, Hyku remains at an early stage with no disclosed pipeline or funding rounds, indicating significant technical and regulatory hurdles ahead.