It's hypothesized that HIP 13044 b didn't always orbit so closely. The planet is unique for study because it apparently has survived its star's red giant phase, when the star expands to massive size after using up the hydrogen supply at its core. It's one of only a few exoplanets to have survived this event, and could lend some interesting insights into the fate of our own solar system as our own sun is on pace to undergo its own red giant phase at some point in the future, likely around 5 billion years from now.