Basel, Switzerland – 14 November 2025, Gibela Therapeutics GmbH (“Gibela”), the Basel-based Biotech focusing on the treatment of liver diseases using siRNA technology to target the human gene CNNM4, announces the recent publication of several peer-reviewed scientific papers demonstrating that CNNM4 modulation addresses one of the core, shared mechanisms in many important liver diseases. These diseases include MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease), MASH (Metabolic dysfunction-Associated SteatoHepatitis) Cholangiocarcinoma and ALD (Alcohol-related Liver Disease). Over-expression of CNNM4 in the liver is a shared characteristic of these diseases, causing dysregulation of magnesium homeostasis. In turn, altered magnesium homeostasis in the liver results in both mitrochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress.
”These recent publications add to the body of work highlighting the therapeutic potential of CNNM4 to restore magnesium homeostasis in diseased livers, thereby modulating metabolic, oncogenic, and neurocognitive pathways. These publications position Gibela Therapeutics
Dr. Malu Martínez-ChantarCo-founder of Gibela Therapeutics
at the forefront of research into CNNM4 based medicines to treat liver and metabolic diseases.
These three studies reveal CNNM4 as a shared pathological driver in liver disease and liver-induced brain dysfunction. Further studies, published previously, also show highly promising results in MASH, drug induced liver, damage and cholestatic liver disease and several non-liver fibrotic conditions.
Gibela is co-founded by Prof. Malu Martínez-Chantar and Dr. Naroa Goikoetxea together with serial biotech entrepreneur Nicholas Benedict. The company’s research originates from the liver disease lab at CIC bioGUNE in Bilbao, Spain, where Gibela is actively investigating the potential of CNNM4 as a therapeutic target. These recent publications show encouraging results across a wide range of liver diseases.
