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Belgian biotech company Augustine Therapeutics has secured $84.8 million in funding to advance its research on HDAC6 inhibitors, a potential treatment for neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic diseases. HDAC6 is known to play a key role in cell function and aging, but previous drugs targeting it have struggled with unwanted side effects and toxicity. Augustine claims to have overcome these issues by developing a new type of selective inhibitor that avoids common chemical structures linked to these problems.
The funding will support early clinical trials for AGT-100216, a drug aimed at treating Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a genetic disorder affecting the nervous system. The company is also working on two other drug candidates designed to target different forms of HDAC6-related diseases. These programs aim to improve treatments for chronic neurological and cardio-metabolic conditions by enhancing the effectiveness and safety of HDAC6 inhibition.
Augustine’s research is based on the work of Professor Ludo Van Den Bosch from the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research. His studies identified HDAC6 inhibition as a promising approach for treating neuropathies like CMT. CEO Dr. Gerhard Koenig emphasized that while HDAC6’s therapeutic potential is well known, past drug efforts have not been ideal for chronic diseases, and their approach aims to change that.
The investment round was led by Novo Holdings, the financial arm of pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, along with Jeito Capital. Other investors included Asabys Partners and Eli Lilly. The company’s leadership believes this funding will help accelerate its drug development and clinical trials.
Investor Emmanuelle Coutanceau from Novo Holdings highlighted Augustine’s innovative medicinal chemistry, stating that their approach could produce best-in-class treatments. Jeito’s Mehdi Ainouche also joined the company’s board, showing strong investor confidence in their work.
Augustine Therapeutics is also expanding its operations in Denmark to take advantage of the country’s strong biotech ecosystem. This move is expected to help further research and development in cardio-metabolic diseases, strengthening their overall drug pipeline.
