CMT Research Foundation (USA) collaborates with Augustine Therapeutics on new therapy against Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

CMT Research Foundation (USA) collaborates with Augustine Therapeutics on new therapy against Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Leuven, Belgium, 02 March 2023 - Augustine Therapeutics announces a collaboration with the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Research Foundation (CMTRF) in the USA. CMTRF is a US-based, patient-led, non-profit focused on delivering treatments for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). With the financial support of CMTRF, Augustine Tx will investigate the efficacy and safety of their newly discovered class of selective HDAC6 inhibitors.

Promising effect of novel HDAC6 inhibitors against CMT

Augustine Tx creates innovative medications that target the fundamental disease mechanisms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth - a category of rare, inherited chronic peripheral neuropathies causing progressive nerve and muscle deterioration. With almost three million individuals affected globally, there is currently no treatment approved for CMT. Augustine Tx’s pipeline is based on small molecule inhibitors of HDAC6, a class II histone deacetylase. This is a well-known molecular target in neurodegenerative disorders and neuropathies. Augustine’s third generation HDAC6 inhibitors do not exert known liabilities of earlier generations and therefore represent a very promising novel class of therapeutic molecules. Augustine Tx lead drug candidate AGT-216 has demonstrated significant potential in preclinical trials. In CMT1A C3 mice, modeling subtypes of the disease with the PMP22 underlying genetic mutation, the candidate has demonstrated HDAC6 target engagement and reversal of disease phenotypes. Effect in axonal damage biomarkers has been shown too, as well as halting disease progression after once-daily treatment for 4 weeks.

CMTRF supports Augustine Tx in advancing lead drug candidate 

Helped by the funding of CMTRF, Augustine Tx now aims to continue development of AGT-216. The objective is to gain an in-depth understanding of the compound by conducting pharmacological dose range finding, non-GLP toxicology and safety studies, as well as long-term efficacy tests in rodents. Conducting these studies is essential to advance the development of AGT-216 towards clinical studies in humans. Apart from its lead candidate, Augustine Tx will also continue assessments on other compound candidates identified using its drug discovery platform.

Prof. dr. Ludo Van Den Bosch (VIB-KU Leuven), founding scientist at Augustine Tx and chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board says: “At Augustine Tx, we aim to deliver the first truly curative option for CMT patients. Following promising preclinical studies, we are on the right track to advance towards future clinical tests”.

Cleary Simpson, CEO of CMTRF says: “HDAC6 inhibitors are promising as potential therapeutics for several forms of CMT. With funding from the CMT Research Foundation, Augustine Tx will be able to continue research on their promising lead candidate tackling CMT1A disease and to take the necessary steps towards first-in-human trials. We are hopeful that this collaboration will accelerate the progress to finding a cure for CMT1A patients who currently have no treatment options available.”

Sylvain Celanire, CEO of Augustine Tx adds: “Our development progress will be greatly expedited thanks to the support provided by the CMT Research Foundation along with support by our historical investors as we move towards IND enabling studies”.