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German biotech Refoxy Pharmaceuticals has raised €9.1 million in seed-extension funding to advance its innovative approach to age-related diseases. The funding will accelerate preclinical development of their lead therapeutic targeting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a severe lung condition, and support the expansion of their platform to other ageing-linked conditions.
Refoxy focuses on small molecule activators of the FOXO3 transcription factor, a key regulator of cellular stress responses and longevity. FOXO3 plays a central role in promoting stress resistance, metabolism, and overall health, making it an attractive target for treating complex diseases. Decades of research, including studies of centenarians, underscore FOXO3’s role in lifespan regulation and resilience to ageing.
Refoxy’s proprietary platform has already identified promising compounds showing therapeutic potential in preclinical IPF models. With limited treatment options for IPF, which affects millions globally, the company aims to intervene in disease progression by targeting FOXO3 to orchestrate beneficial changes across multiple biological pathways.
Co-founded by Dr. Victor Bustos and FOXO3 expert Professor Wolfgang Link, with support from Apollo Health Ventures, Refoxy claims to be the first biotech dedicated to FOXO3 activators. Backed by leading investors like the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, the company envisions leveraging FOXO3 biology to treat specific diseases and enhance healthspan, addressing the fundamental drivers of ageing-related conditions.
