MH
Mauricio Hernández
Principal Investigator
Architect of the peptide discovery platform, proteomic validation and the biased somatotropin receptor mechanism.
Biospecific therapies · Human & animal health
Splinter® Peptides
Biased somatotropin receptor agonism: fat synthesis off, tissue repair on — from a single molecule class.
Bioengineered peptides under 30 amino acids, selected for clinical effect and safety — biospecific therapies for human and animal health without the diabetogenic cost of rhGH.
The clinical gap
Today's anabolic and metabolic tools force a trade-off
Recombinant hGH
Efficacy at the price of systemic risk
- Hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, T2D risk
- Oncologic caution in survivors (IGF-1 elevation)
- Edema, arthralgia, carpal tunnel — adherence loss
- High cost and cold chain limit real-world access
GLP-1 era
Weight comes off — so does muscle
- 25–40% of weight lost is lean mass in reported series
- Sarcopenic-obesity phenotype in older, comorbid patients
- No approved companion therapy to protect muscle during titration
Sources: Mekala & Tritos, JCEM 2009 · Reed et al., Front Endocrinol 2013 · Di Somma et al., JCM 2023
Mechanism
A metabolic switch, not a hormone replacement
01 · Peptide
Splinter® α-helix, <30 aa
02 · Binding
Somatotropin receptor
Lipogenesis · SCD1 / ELOVL6OFF
Repair machinery · RPL29ON
Biased agonism
Signal selection at Site 1
Binds the somatotropin receptor and activates STAT5/mTOR regenerative signalling without engaging diabetogenic routes.
- Fewer metabolic side effects
Lipogenic shut-off
Fat synthesis switched off
Direct down-regulation of SCD1 and ELOVL6 (−2.11 logFC at 72 h) blocks lipogenesis at the cell level.
- Hepatic and adipose benefit
Anabolic pulse
Repair machinery switched on
Up-regulation of RPL29 and ribosomal machinery drives protein synthesis, muscle sparing and tissue repair.
- Lean mass preservation
Synthetic α-helical peptides under 30 aa, bioprospected from aquatic species and refined through our bioengineering pipeline — a selection process that isolates viable molecules with demonstrated clinical effect before they enter phased studies. One receptor, two coordinated outputs: a repair arm and a metabolic arm.
Evidence to date
Pre-clinical validation supporting the mechanism
673
Significant shifts at 72 h
6.1×
Increase in anabolism
87%
Ribosomal activation
2 labs
Independent confirmation
Key bioactivity and safety assays were performed in two independent laboratories, with concordant direction and magnitude across replicates.
Safety signal
0% cytotoxicity
No cytotoxicity in HeLa lines at concentrations far above physiological levels.
Bioactivity
Proliferation within 72 h
Increased cell proliferation with ECM and collagen pathway enrichment.
Dosing design
Half-life extended >400×
Acylation plus albumin-depot engineering enables weekly administration.
In silico screening of 29 peptides · lead candidate SEQ ID NO:5 · assays performed in two independent laboratories with consistent results.
Our process
Bioengineering that selects for viability and clinical effect
Every Splinter® peptide advances through a disciplined pipeline designed to deliver one thing: a therapeutic tool that is viable, safe and worthy of clinical confidence.
01 · Discovery
Bioprospecting & design
Biospecific candidate peptides identified from aquatic biodiversity and engineered for the target receptor.
02 · Selection
In silico & in vitro screening
Bioengineering filters keep only molecules with viable binding, bioactivity and zero cytotoxicity.
03 · Validation
Proteomic proof of effect
Quantitative proteomics confirms the clinical effect at the cellular level before any animal study.
04 · Phased studies
Confidence through evidence
Staged toxicology, in vivo and optimisation studies build the safety case for a viable therapeutic tool.
Clinical applications
Biospecific therapies for human and animal health
Each peptide is aimed at a defined health problem — metabolic, regenerative or cytoprotective — in human and veterinary medicine.
Metabolic
Liver & obesity
- MASH / MASLD
- Type 2 diabetes comorbidity
- Lipogenesis inhibition
Animal health
Veterinary applications
- Metabolic disorders in production & companion animals
- Wound and tissue repair
- Biospecific peptides per species
Regenerative
Tissue repair
- Chronic wound healing
- Diabetic foot ulcers
- Controlled tissue anabolism
Adjunct to GLP-1
Muscle sparing
- Lean mass during weight loss
- Sarcopenic obesity
- Post-titration maintenance
Dermal / cytoprotection
Skin & defence
- Anti-apoptotic protection
- Antioxidant defence
- Skin rejuvenation
Scheme optimisation
Weekly, not daily
Fewer visits and better adherence than daily injection regimens.
Access & cost
Peptide economics
Chemical synthesis of a <30 aa peptide vs a 22 kDa biologic: lower cost of goods, simpler logistics.
Safety positioning
Designed selectivity
Engineered to avoid the diabetogenic and IGF-1 concerns that limit rhGH use.
The team
Scientists, industry leaders and transfer experts
A combined bench-to-bedside skill set: discovery science, international pharma management, and intellectual-property translation.
FR
Felipe Reyes
Pharmaceutical Industry Executive
International management across drug development, commercial strategy and regulatory pathways.
CP
Cristian Placencia
Pharmaceutical Industry Expert
Global leadership in pharma operations, market access and product lifecycle management.
PP
Patricio Pizarro
Tech Transfer & IP Strategy
Technology transfer, patent prosecution and academic–industry partnership structures.
JB
Jorge Becar
Legal & IP Counsel
Legal strategy and intellectual-property protection for the Splinter® peptide platform.
Path to the clinic
12-month plan and IP status
Q1
Synthesis
Zebrafish toxicology and growth trials.
Q2
In vivo
Mouse models for obesity and MASH.
Q3
Optimisation
PEGylation and distribution studies.
Q4
Translation
National phase filing and pharma partnering.
Patent PCT/CL2026/050023
Somatotropin Agonist Mimetic Peptides: Compositions and Methods for Tissue Regeneration, Metabolic Modulation and Cytoprotection
Claims cover synthetic sequences SEQ ID NO:1–29, somatotropin receptor binding and biased agonism, pharmaceutical compositions and clinical applications. Status: PCT filed · national phase jurisdictions being defined with IP counsel.
Where partners come in
- Prioritise the first clinical indication
- Define endpoints and patient profile for Phase 1/2
- Stress-test the safety narrative vs rhGH
Get involved
An invitation to shape a first-in-class molecule.
Clinical relevance
Define the trial that matters
Help set the indication and endpoints that change outcomes for patients.
Scientific standing
Lead a novel mechanism
Co-author, present and champion genuinely new biology.
Early access
Shape the protocols
Engage before Phase 1 design is locked.