Company Overview
Apogenix is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drugs, which exert their therapeutic effect by targeted modulation of apoptosis (programmed cell death). The company´s pipeline currently comprises several protein drug candidates (APG101 and various IL-4 inhibitors such as, e.g. APG201) in preclinical development. Their therapeutic potential has been demonstrated in a variety of animal models such as “Graft-versus-Host Disease” (GvHD), cancer, and spinal cord injury.
Apogenix was founded as a spin-out from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and is located in Heidelberg, Germany. Since its inception in 2005, the company has raised 15m EUR in a series A round and 27.5m EUR in a series B round, and has been awarded 1.5m EUR in public grants. Apogenix expects to initiate first clinical trials in early 2008, less than three years after its start of operations.
Corporate Strategy
Apogenix focuses on the development of protein-based therapeutics which have demonstrated efficacy in relevant animal models.
Apogenix pursues both blockbuster and orphan drug indications which are amenable for treatment by modulation of apoptosis. While blockbuster indications constitute large but also highly competitive markets, orphan drug indications imply exclusive marketing rights for a defined period of time, thereby enabling the company to quickly establish itself as a market leader in the respective field.
Apogenix´ goal is to develop its drug candidates at least up to proof-of-concept in man based on clinical phase II data. Thereafter, full or partial commercial rights to the respective drug candidates may be out-licensed to other biopharmaceutical companies. Alternatively, Apogenix may opt to continue clinical development and commercialization of an orphan compound on its own.
Drug Development Approach
Apogenix is developing drugs that either block or induce apoptosis, or sensitize cells to apoptosis. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a natural process in the body and has several functions. As an example, the controlled death of cells during embryonic development helps to sculpture the body, shape the organs, and carve out fingers and toes. Moreover, it plays a crucial part in maintaining the integrity of any multicellular organism by purging the body of damaged, infected, old, or abnormally transformed cells. In human beings, several billion cells die every day just to counter the cells newly arising from mitotic divisions.
If this tightly regulated and finely tuned process goes astray by triggering too little or too much cell death, it may result in a large variety of pathological conditions. For example, insufficient apoptosis can cause uncontrolled cell growth and may lead to cancer while excessive apoptosis leads to cellular attrition observed in, e.g. acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD) and spinal cord injuries.
Drug Pipeline
APG101
APG101, a human, soluble fusion protein combining the extracellular domain of the CD95-receptor and an Fc part is a blocker of CD95L-mediated apoptosis. It has been shown that blockade of CD95L plays an important role in the pathophysiology of many
different diseases such as GvHD, MI, spinal cord injury, stroke, and sepsis. All these indications are characterized by an excess of apoptosis. APG101 is currently being developed for the prevention of acute GvHD and has been granted “orphan drug status” by the European Commission in October 2006. It is planned to initiate first clinical trials in early 2008.
IL-4 Inhibitors
APG201 is one of a series of IL-4 inhibitors that acts as an apoptosis-sensitizer blocking the up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. It has been shown in a variety of in vitro and in vivo experiments that treatment with APG201 leads to a re-sensitization of cancer cells to undergo apoptosis induced by, e.g. chemotherapy. Since many cancers are characterized by a deficiency in apoptosis, this new treatment paradigm has broad potential to combat this disease. APG201 is currently being developed for the treatment of solid tumors.
Executive Management
Dr Thomas Höger, Chief Executive Officer / Chief Financial Officer
Thomas Höger joined Apogenix as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer in November 2005. From 2000 to 2005, he was senior biotechnology analyst for DZ BANK, Frankfurt, Germany. Prior to joining DZ BANK, he held various research and management positions at BASF AG and Knoll AG from 1992 to 2000. There, he headed an interdisciplinary team of more than 40 biologists and chemists in the field of central nervous system research.
Thomas Höger obtained his Ph.D. in 1991 at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) after having studied biology at the Universities of Kiel, Heidelberg, and – as a Fulbright Scholar – at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, USA). In 2001, he completed his training as CEFA-analyst (“Certified European Federation of Financial Societies Financial Analyst”).
Dr Harald Fricke, Chief Medical Officer / Chief Operating Officer
Harald Fricke joined Apogenix as CMO/COO in January 2006. Previously, he had been responsible for the global clinical development at Fresenius Biotech GmbH. Prior to this, he was head of Baxter Oncology´s clinical development unit. From 1996 to 2001, he held various national and international management positions at SmithKline Beecham and GlaxoSmithKline, respectively.
Harald Fricke obtained his M.D. in 1987 after having studied medicine at the Universities of Aachen and Lübeck. From 1987 to 1990, he worked as a postdoc at the Weizman Institute of Science in Israel. Following his accreditation as specialist in internal medicine in 1993, he was awarded his “Habilitation” in 1996 by Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich.
Key Facts:
Year of Foundation: 2005
Number of Employees: 22
Ownership: Private
Investors:
• Investment firms of Dietmar Hopp and family
• German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
• Scientific Founders
• Executive Management
Financing History:
• EUR 15 million (2005), led by Dievini GmbH & Co. KG for Dietmar Hopp and familiy
Advisory Board:
• Dr Friedrich von Bohlen und Halbach (Chairman), Managing Director, Dievini GmbH & Co. KG
• Dr Hartmut Voss, Dievini GmbH & Co. KG
• Prof Peter Krammer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
• Dr Martin Bürmann, Law firm Rittershaus
Scientific Advisors
• Prof Peter Krammer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
• Prof Henning Walczak, Imperial College (London, UK)
• Dr Ana Martin-Villalba, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
Apogenix is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drugs, which exert their therapeutic effect by targeted modulation of apoptosis (programmed cell death). The company´s pipeline currently comprises several protein drug candidates (APG101 and various IL-4 inhibitors such as, e.g. APG201) in preclinical development. Their therapeutic potential has been demonstrated in a variety of animal models such as “Graft-versus-Host Disease” (GvHD), cancer, and spinal cord injury.
Apogenix was founded as a spin-out from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and is located in Heidelberg, Germany. Since its inception in 2005, the company has raised 15m EUR in a series A round and 27.5m EUR in a series B round, and has been awarded 1.5m EUR in public grants. Apogenix expects to initiate first clinical trials in early 2008, less than three years after its start of operations.
Corporate Strategy
Apogenix focuses on the development of protein-based therapeutics which have demonstrated efficacy in relevant animal models.
Apogenix pursues both blockbuster and orphan drug indications which are amenable for treatment by modulation of apoptosis. While blockbuster indications constitute large but also highly competitive markets, orphan drug indications imply exclusive marketing rights for a defined period of time, thereby enabling the company to quickly establish itself as a market leader in the respective field.
Apogenix´ goal is to develop its drug candidates at least up to proof-of-concept in man based on clinical phase II data. Thereafter, full or partial commercial rights to the respective drug candidates may be out-licensed to other biopharmaceutical companies. Alternatively, Apogenix may opt to continue clinical development and commercialization of an orphan compound on its own.
Drug Development Approach
Apogenix is developing drugs that either block or induce apoptosis, or sensitize cells to apoptosis. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a natural process in the body and has several functions. As an example, the controlled death of cells during embryonic development helps to sculpture the body, shape the organs, and carve out fingers and toes. Moreover, it plays a crucial part in maintaining the integrity of any multicellular organism by purging the body of damaged, infected, old, or abnormally transformed cells. In human beings, several billion cells die every day just to counter the cells newly arising from mitotic divisions.
If this tightly regulated and finely tuned process goes astray by triggering too little or too much cell death, it may result in a large variety of pathological conditions. For example, insufficient apoptosis can cause uncontrolled cell growth and may lead to cancer while excessive apoptosis leads to cellular attrition observed in, e.g. acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD) and spinal cord injuries.
Drug Pipeline
APG101
APG101, a human, soluble fusion protein combining the extracellular domain of the CD95-receptor and an Fc part is a blocker of CD95L-mediated apoptosis. It has been shown that blockade of CD95L plays an important role in the pathophysiology of many
different diseases such as GvHD, MI, spinal cord injury, stroke, and sepsis. All these indications are characterized by an excess of apoptosis. APG101 is currently being developed for the prevention of acute GvHD and has been granted “orphan drug status” by the European Commission in October 2006. It is planned to initiate first clinical trials in early 2008.
IL-4 Inhibitors
APG201 is one of a series of IL-4 inhibitors that acts as an apoptosis-sensitizer blocking the up-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. It has been shown in a variety of in vitro and in vivo experiments that treatment with APG201 leads to a re-sensitization of cancer cells to undergo apoptosis induced by, e.g. chemotherapy. Since many cancers are characterized by a deficiency in apoptosis, this new treatment paradigm has broad potential to combat this disease. APG201 is currently being developed for the treatment of solid tumors.
Executive Management
Dr Thomas Höger, Chief Executive Officer / Chief Financial Officer
Thomas Höger joined Apogenix as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer in November 2005. From 2000 to 2005, he was senior biotechnology analyst for DZ BANK, Frankfurt, Germany. Prior to joining DZ BANK, he held various research and management positions at BASF AG and Knoll AG from 1992 to 2000. There, he headed an interdisciplinary team of more than 40 biologists and chemists in the field of central nervous system research.
Thomas Höger obtained his Ph.D. in 1991 at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) after having studied biology at the Universities of Kiel, Heidelberg, and – as a Fulbright Scholar – at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, USA). In 2001, he completed his training as CEFA-analyst (“Certified European Federation of Financial Societies Financial Analyst”).
Dr Harald Fricke, Chief Medical Officer / Chief Operating Officer
Harald Fricke joined Apogenix as CMO/COO in January 2006. Previously, he had been responsible for the global clinical development at Fresenius Biotech GmbH. Prior to this, he was head of Baxter Oncology´s clinical development unit. From 1996 to 2001, he held various national and international management positions at SmithKline Beecham and GlaxoSmithKline, respectively.
Harald Fricke obtained his M.D. in 1987 after having studied medicine at the Universities of Aachen and Lübeck. From 1987 to 1990, he worked as a postdoc at the Weizman Institute of Science in Israel. Following his accreditation as specialist in internal medicine in 1993, he was awarded his “Habilitation” in 1996 by Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich.
Key Facts:
Year of Foundation: 2005
Number of Employees: 22
Ownership: Private
Investors:
• Investment firms of Dietmar Hopp and family
• German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
• Scientific Founders
• Executive Management
Financing History:
• EUR 15 million (2005), led by Dievini GmbH & Co. KG for Dietmar Hopp and familiy
Advisory Board:
• Dr Friedrich von Bohlen und Halbach (Chairman), Managing Director, Dievini GmbH & Co. KG
• Dr Hartmut Voss, Dievini GmbH & Co. KG
• Prof Peter Krammer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
• Dr Martin Bürmann, Law firm Rittershaus
Scientific Advisors
• Prof Peter Krammer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
• Prof Henning Walczak, Imperial College (London, UK)
• Dr Ana Martin-Villalba, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)