Augustine Therapeutics, a Belgium-based biotech company pioneering therapies for neuromuscular, neurodegenerative, and cardio-metabolic diseases, has raised €77.7 million in Series A funding. The oversubscribed round was co-led by Novo Holdings and Jeito Capital, with continued support from existing investors, including Asabys Partners, which previously led a €17.5 million initial closing in 2024.
Additional participants include Eli Lilly and Company, AdBio Partners, V-Bio Ventures, PMV, VIB, Gemma Frisius Fund, the US-based Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Research Foundation, and Newton Biocapital.
Strategic use of investment
The new capital infusion will drive Augustine’s lead candidate, AGT-100216, into Phase I/II proof-of-concept clinical trials targeting Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. Additionally, Augustine plans to advance its two other discovery-stage programs focused on HDAC6 inhibitors with differentiated profiles, one peripheral-restricted and the other capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier, addressing undisclosed neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic indications.
Visionaries with scientific origin
Augustine Therapeutics was founded by Prof. Ludo Van Den Bosch from the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research. His groundbreaking work identified Histone DeACetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibition as a promising approach for treating CMT and other neuropathies. The company was initially seed-funded by V-Bio Ventures, AdBio Partners, VIB, PMV, and Gemma Frisius Fund, leveraging Prof. Van Den Bosch’s expertise to establish a robust scientific foundation.
In January 2025, Gerhard Koenig, PhD, assumed the role of CEO, bringing extensive experience in biopharma leadership. Koenig previously served as Executive Chairman of Augustine from June 2024 and is expected to lead the company through clinical milestones and strategic growth. His appointment underscores the company’s commitment to advancing its innovative pipeline with experienced guidance.
The science behind Augustine’s approach
Augustine’s approach centres on selectively inhibiting HDAC6, an enzyme involved in neurodegeneration and tissue aging-related cellular processes. Unlike previous generations of HDAC6 inhibitors, which often produced non-selective and toxic effects, Augustine’s next-generation molecules utilise a novel non-hydroxamate, non-hydrazine mechanism that preserves HDAC6’s beneficial non-catalytic functions. This selective inhibition holds tremendous potential in treating CMT, a hereditary peripheral nervous system disorder affecting approximately three million people worldwide.
AGT-100216: Lead candidate targeting CMT
AGT-100216, Augustine’s lead candidate, is a next-generation HDAC6 inhibitor poised to enter Phase I/II clinical trials. Preclinical data suggests that AGT-100216 offers a superior safety profile and increased efficacy compared to traditional HDAC6 inhibitors, addressing the challenges of prior compounds in this space. The proof-of-concept trial will assess its potential to improve motor function and mitigate disease progression in CMT patients.
Pipeline expansion and discovery programs
Beyond AGT-100216, Augustine is advancing two additional discovery-stage HDAC6 inhibitor programs targeting a broad range of neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic disorders. These programs are differentiated by their molecular profiles, with one focusing on peripheral-restricted activity and the other designed for optimal penetration of the blood-brain barrier. This dual approach positions Augustine to address diseases with both central and peripheral nervous system involvement.
Industry impact
The Belgian startup’s innovation in HDAC6 inhibition could impact the treatment landscape for neurodegenerative and cardio-metabolic disorders. By addressing unmet medical needs in CMT and other complex diseases, the company is well-positioned to deliver life-changing therapies to millions of patients globally. The differentiated, next-generation approach to HDAC6 inhibition holds promise not only for improving outcomes in CMT but also for expanding therapeutic applications in broader disease areas.
With robust financial backing, an advanced clinical pipeline, and a leadership team with proven expertise, Augustine Therapeutics is poised to redefine the treatment paradigm for CMT and beyond. The company’s strategic focus on HDAC6 inhibition and its commitment to addressing unmet needs in neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases set the stage for transformative breakthroughs in the biotech landscape.
Gerhard Koenig, PhD, CEO of Augustine said: “This significant financing is a testament to the innovative medicinal chemistry that Augustine was founded on, which acts via a unique mechanism of action. The therapeutic potential of HDAC6 is widely recognized in our industry, but previous drug approaches have been sub-optimal, particularly for chronic diseases. At Augustine, we believe we have solved these challenges with a novel non-hydroxamate, non-hydrazide producing chemotype which is highly selective and avoids the typical limitations of prior chemotypes, unlocking HDAC6 inhibition as a therapeutic approach. We now look forward to rapidly advancing our lead candidate into clinical trials for the treatment of CMT, while broadening the potential for our candidates to change treatment paradigms for neurological and cardio-metabolic diseases. I would like to thank our new and existing investors for their unwavering support as we continue to advance into clinical development.”
Emmanuelle Coutanceau, PhD, Partner, Seed Investments, Novo Holdings, commented: “Our mapping of the HDAC6i landscape has made us confident that Augustine’s innovative and rigorous approach to medicinal chemistry has yielded molecules with potential to be best-in-class. HDAC6 inhibition shows great promise in many indications, and we are enthused to start our collaboration with Augustine’s top-tier management team. Additionally, Augustine will be expanding its activities in Denmark, accessing a unique ecosystem and pool of talent which will support the exploration of HDAC6i in cardio-metabolic diseases.”
Mehdi Ainouche, PharmD, Senior Principal, at Jeito Capital, said: “This investment illustrates the potential of Augustine to bring exciting innovation in therapeutic areas where patients have limited or no treatment options. We are delighted to co-lead this financing to realize Augustine’s potential, which stands out for both the quality of its research and the expertise of Gerhard and his team. We look forward to our future collaboration, which shares a common ambition: to accelerate clinical development in order to bring these innovations to patients.”
