Refoxy Pharmaceuticals Secures $9.7 Million to Explore Innovative Treatment for IPF

Refoxy Pharmaceuticals GmbH, a preclinical biotech firm specializing in age-related disease treatments, has completed a $9.7 million seed-extension financing round which will be targeted towards new treatment options for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

The financial boost will support the German company’s ongoing development of novel therapeutic agent. With the funds, Refoxy aims to address the complex biology of IPF by targeting the FOXO3 transcription factor, which has the potential to influence multiple biological pathways implicated in disease progression.

FOXO3 is a gene widely recognized for its association with a longer and healthier lifespan in humans, playing a crucial role in helping tissues and organs manage stress. Despite its therapeutic potential, the complexity of FOXO3 biology has historically impeded drug discovery efforts.

Victor Bustos, Ph.D.

“We are following biology,” said Victor Bustos, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Refoxy. “The evidence that FOXO3 activation can be therapeutically relevant continues to grow, not only in IPF but in multiple chronic disorders. This financing brings us one step closer to leveraging FOXO3 biology for novel therapeutics.”

Co-founded by Bustos and Wolfgang Link, an expert in FOXO3, and headquartered in Cologne, Germany, Refoxy is using a proprietary platform known as F.act finder (FOXO activator finder) to identify effective FOXO3 activators based on Link’s pioneering research.

According to Bustos, the F.act finder platform has already yielded promising results, demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of FOXO3 modulation in models of IPF and affirming the company’s confidence to advance further.

The funding was led by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF) and included participation from Apollo Health Ventures, NRW.Venture and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).

“We are thrilled to provide funding for Refoxy’s research on FOXO3 activation as a promising novel therapeutic approach,” said Niklas Czeloth, investment manager at BIVF and board member at Refoxy. “This perfectly aligns with our mission to support breakthrough developments and deliver innovative therapies to patients in need in the field of IPF.”

Targeting FOXO3 presents a promising approach for addressing many age-related diseases, as the protein plays a vital role in maintaining cellular balance, coordinating multiorgan responses to various stresses and promoting overall health.

Conventional drug development typically zeroes in on individual proteins or signaling pathways, which often proves insufficient for managing complex, multifaceted conditions. In contrast, by focusing on the transcription factor FOXO3, his company can harness a key regulator that impacts numerous biological processes, Bustos said. This strategy may enhance therapeutic outcomes and extend healthspan by tackling age-related issues like fibrotic disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

Johanna Antonie Tjaden-Schulte, a member of the managing board of NRW.Venture, praised the innovative approach taken by Refoxy.

“In view of the innovative therapeutic approach being developed by Refoxy, our investment in the start-up is a good example of how promotional funding can foster innovative ideas,” she said.