Lumena

Lumena Pharmaceuticals was a San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company developing oral therapeutics for rare cholestatic liver diseases, focused on inhibiting the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) to reduce bile acid absorption and improve liver function. Its lead compound LUM001 received FDA orphan drug designation for four rare liver indications including Alagille syndrome and primary biliary cirrhosis. Founded in 2011, Lumena raised over $68M in venture financing before being acquired by Shire Pharmaceuticals in May 2014 for $260M+ to bolster Shire's rare GI/hepatic disease pipeline.