ActoGeniX

ActoGeniX is a biopharmaceutical company, based in Ghent, Belgium, focused on the development and commercialization of ActoBiotics™, a novel class of orally available biopharmaceuticals for the targeted treatment of severe diseases with a high medical need.

ActoBiotics™ represent a novel concept for oral administration of therapeutic proteins. ActoBiotics™ can deliver therapeutic peptides and proteins, including cytokines, enzymes, hormones and monoclonal antibodies.[1][2][3][4]

AG013, ActoGeniX´s lead ActoBiotic™ for the treatment of oral mucositis in cancer patients has been evaluated in a phase 1B clinical trial in the US, confirming safety and tolerability as well as initial efficacy. Analysis of initial efficacy showed a 35% reduction of the percentage of days with ulcerative oral mucositis in the AG013-treated patients versus the placebo-treated patients. Close to 30% of the patients treated with AG013 were full responders while all placebo-treated patients developed ulcerative oral mucositis.[5]

In preclinical models, ActoGeniX has confirmed the applicability of ActoBiotics™ for diseases including gastrointestinal, metabolic, immune diseases and allergies.

ActoGeniX was founded in 2006 as a spin-off from VIB and Ghent University. The Company is headquartered in Ghent (Belgium) and employs approximately 20 employees, half of whom are PhD’s, MD’s, or PharmD’s. ActoGeniX raised 35.5 million Euro (approximately 50 million US$) in two equity financing rounds from a consortium of leading life sciences investors such as GIMV, Biotech Fund Flanders, Baekeland Fund, Biovest (Belgium), Life Sciences Partners, Aescap Venture (The Netherlands) and Ventech (France).

ActoGeniX has a broad intellectual property position with a patent estate encompassing more than 20 distinct patent families.

In April 2012, Prof. Chantal Mathieu and her team at the University Hospital of Leuven announced a major breakthrough in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes with an ActoBiotic™.[6] The ActoBiotic™ can stably reinstate normal glucose levels in Type 1 diabetic mice. This strategy was without side effects and can now be further developed for human application. The results of the study have been published in the authoritative Journal of Clinical Investigation.[7]

Indications

ActoGeniX focuses on areas with unmet need in gastrointestinal, immunological and metabolic diseases:

References

  1. ↑ Steidler L & Vandenbroucke K. Genetically modified Lactococcus lactis: novel tools for drug delivery. International Journal of Dairy Technology 2006; 59, 140-146
  2. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20074282
  3. ↑ Steidler L. Live genetically modified bacteria as drug delivery tools: at the doorstep of a new pharmacology? Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy 2004; 4, 439-441
  4. ↑ Steidler L, Hans W, Schotte L, Neirynck S, Obermeier F, Falk W, Fiers W, Remaut E. Treatment of murine colitis by Lactococcus lactis secreting Interleukin-10. Science 2000; 289(5483), 1352-1355
  5. ↑ http://www.actogenix.com/eng/documents/news/pressreleases/ActoGeniX%20Press%20Release%20ENG%2015%20Sept%202011.pdf
  6. 1 2 http://www.kuleuven.be/english/news/a-permanent-cure-for-type-1-diabetes
  7. 1 2 http://www.jci.org/articles/view/60530
  8. ↑ Caluwaerts S, Vandenbroucke K, Steidler L, Neirynck S, Vanhoenacker P, Corveleyn S, Watkins B, Sonis S, Coulie B, Rottiers P. AG013, a mouth rinse formulation of Lactococcuslactis secreting human Trefoil Factor 1, provides a safe and efficacious therapeutic tool for treating oral mucositis. Oral Oncology 2010 Jul;46(7):564-70
  9. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19794409

External links

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