V-Bio Ventures invests in Augustine Therapeutics, a VIB and KU Leuven spin-off to fight neuromuscular diseases

06-Jan-2020 - Belgium

V-Bio Ventures announced its investment in Augustine Therapeutics, a new venture developing innovative therapeutics for patients suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. A spin-off of VIB and KU Leuven, Augustine raises a seed-round of 4.2 million euro with V-Bio Ventures, PMV, Advent France Biotechnology, Gemma Frisius Fund and VIB.

Augustine Therapeutics, a spin-off from VIB and KU Leuven, focuses on the discovery and development of innovative medicines to benefit patients suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and other neuromuscular diseases. CMT is one of the most common hereditary disorders of the peripheral nervous system, affecting approximately 10 to 30 in 100,000 people globally. The disease is characterized by a progressive denervation of muscles, resulting in a slow decline of the patient’s day-to-day functioning. The current therapeutics market for CMT is limited to supportive management of symptoms.

The newly formed company is rooted in the ground-breaking research of the VIB-KU Leuven labs of Ludo Van Den Bosch and from a collaboration between the labs of Joris de Wit and Bart De Strooper (both VIB-KU Leuven). According to Ludo Van Den Bosch: “We uncovered several biological pathways in peripheral neuropathies that represent promising therapeutic targets for CMT. The validation and in-depth study of the underlying biology of these targets now provides a first-rate foundation for the development of novel therapeutics.”

Augustine Therapeutics completes a seed financing round of 4.2 million euro. The company is the result of a collaborative effort of VIB, KU Leuven, V-Bio Ventures and PMV, joined by Advent France Biotechnology and Gemma Frisius Fund. Augustine Therapeutics is a great example of VIB’s approach to company co-creation with business partners and investors. In anticipation of attracting a dedicated management team for Augustine, the day-to day interim management of the company is assumed by Ward Capoen (V-Bio Ventures) and Jérôme Van Biervliet (VIB).

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/1164276/v-bio-ventures-invests-in-augustine-therapeutics-a-vib-and-ku-leuven-spin-off-to-fight-neuromuscular-diseases.html