MAX BioPharma and Technomark Life Sciences Announce Partnership for Oxysterol-Based MASH Drug

Technomark invests in MAX BioPharma's $13M Series A to advance Oxy210 into Phase 1 trials for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Technomark Life Sciences and MAX BioPharma have announced a collaboration to develop MAX BioPharma's oxysterol drug candidate, Oxy210, for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Technomark is investing in MAX BioPharma's $13 million Series A funding round to initiate and complete a Phase 1a/1b first-in-human study of Oxy210. The companies believe Oxy210's antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties could make it an effective, orally bioavailable therapy for MASH.

Why it matters

MASH, a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is a growing health concern worldwide with limited treatment options. Oxy210's novel mechanism of action targeting multiple disease drivers could make it a significant advancement in managing MASH and potentially liver cirrhosis.

The details

Technomark Life Sciences is investing in MAX BioPharma as the strategic lead investor for its $13 million Series A financing. The funds will allow MAX BioPharma to initiate and complete a Phase 1a/1b first-in-human study of its lead asset, Oxy210, an orally bioavailable oxysterol compound with antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Oxy210 was developed using MAX BioPharma's Oxysterol Therapeutics platform and is being targeted for MASH, a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that can progress to liver cirrhosis.

  • MAX BioPharma and Technomark Life Sciences announced their partnership on March 10, 2026.

The players

MAX BioPharma

A privately held, preclinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel small molecule lipids as drug candidates, including its lead asset Oxy210 for MASH.

Technomark Life Sciences

A 38-year-old venture capital group that is investing in MAX BioPharma's $13 million Series A financing to advance Oxy210 into Phase 1 clinical trials.

Farhad Parhami

President and CEO of MAX BioPharma.

Frank Stappenbeck

Director of Chemistry at MAX BioPharma.

Dr. Scott Friedman

Professor of Medicine and Director of Institute for Liver Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Allen Hakimi

CEO and Managing Director of Technomark Life Sciences.

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What they’re saying

“We are extremely excited about forming this important collaboration that will empower MAX BioPharma in its efforts to develop a safe, effective, orally bioavailable, novel therapy, derived from our Oxysterol Therapeutics® platform, for targeting MASH.”

— Farhad Parhami, President and CEO of MAX BioPharma

“There is a need for safe and cost-effective treatment options for MASH, not only in the US, but worldwide. Compared to existing drugs and drug candidates for MASH, Oxy210 can be scaled at low cost using inexpensive materials via straightforward chemical synthesis. And, as a small molecule stable at room temperature, Oxy210 would not need a cold supply chain, as required for peptide-based GLP-1 agonists, for example.”

— Frank Stappenbeck, Director of Chemistry at MAX BioPharma

“By hitting several of the core disease drivers at once, i.e. inflammation, fibrosis, senescence, and metabolic dysfunction with oral dosing and clean preclinical data thus far, Oxy210 can have a meaningful impact on MASH. If these preclinical findings translate into humans, Oxy210 has the profile of a novel, disease‑modifying agent that could be used alone or in combination with metabolic agents (e.g., GLP‑1 agonists) to target both liver fibrosis and cardiometabolic vulnerabilities.”

— Dr. Scott Friedman, Professor of Medicine and Director of Institute for Liver Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

“We are enthusiastic about our collaboration with MAX BioPharma and the value that we can add to its already impressive therapeutic development program by providing our decades long experience in navigating the often complex tasks in drug development, to bring a much-needed therapy for people with MASH, while creating maximum value for stakeholders.”

— Allen Hakimi, CEO and Managing Director of Technomark Life Sciences

What’s next

The companies plan to initiate and complete a Phase 1a/1b first-in-human study of Oxy210 using the $13 million Series A funding from Technomark's investment.

The takeaway

This partnership between MAX BioPharma and Technomark Life Sciences aims to advance a novel, potentially disease-modifying therapy for MASH, a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with limited treatment options. Oxy210's unique mechanism of action targeting multiple drivers of the disease could make it an important new approach to managing this growing health concern.