Conatus Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel medicines to treat liver disease. Its lead compound, emricasan, is a first-in-class, orally active pan-caspase protease inhibitor designed to reduce the activity of human caspases. In December 2016, Conatus announced an exclusive option, collaboration and license agreement with Novartis for the global development and commercialization of emricasan. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.