ActoGeniX

ActoGeniX N.V. was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that operated in the cellular therapeutics market, focusing on developing treatments for gastrointestinal, immunological, and metabolic diseases. The company was established in June 2006 as a spin-off from the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and the University of Ghent in Belgium. It was co-founded by Dr. Bernard Coulie, Dr. Lothar Steidler, Mark Vaeck, and Emil Pot. Dr. Coulie, who served as CEO and Chief Medical Officer, brought extensive drug development experience from his time at Johnson & Johnson and the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Steidler's research was foundational to the company's core technology.

The company's business model was centered on the development and commercialization of a new class of biological drugs called ActoBiotics™. These orally administered therapeutics were developed using the proprietary TopAct™ technology platform, which engineered food-grade microbes (*Lactococcus lactis*) to function as in-situ biofactories. Once ingested, these microbes locally produce and secrete therapeutic proteins—such as cytokines, enzymes, and antibody fragments—directly at the site of disease in the gastrointestinal tract. This method of delivery offered a targeted alternative to systemic injectable medicines. The company's clients were primarily other biopharmaceutical companies and partners interested in collaborating on the development of these novel therapies. ActoGeniX's revenue model was based on securing financing through venture capital and forming strategic partnerships to fund its product development pipeline.

A significant milestone for ActoGeniX was its acquisition in February 2015 by Intrexon Corporation, a US-based synthetic biology company, for approximately $60 million in a cash and stock deal. The acquisition was driven by a need for capital after the company's European venture capital investors were no longer willing to fund the lengthy and complex regulatory process for its novel therapies. Prior to the acquisition, ActoGeniX had raised $57.2 million over several funding rounds from investors including Gimv, Life Sciences Partners, and EQT. At the time of the sale, ActoGeniX had advanced clinical-stage products, including AG013 for oral mucositis and AG014 for inflammatory bowel disease. After the acquisition, the technology continued to be developed, with the business integrated into Intrexon and later operating as ActoBio Therapeutics, a wholly-owned subsidiary.

Keywords: ActoBiotics, TopAct platform, Lactococcus lactis, oral drug delivery, cellular therapeutics, biopharmaceuticals, gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, targeted therapy, microbial biopharmaceuticals, Bernard Coulie, Lothar Steidler, Intrexon acquisition, VIB, University of Ghent, gene therapy, microbiome modulation, protein secretion, biotherapeutics, drug discovery, clinical-stage, inflammatory bowel disease, oral mucositis