Ingenium Pharmaceuticals

About Ingenium Pharmaceuticals

Ingenium Pharmaceuticals AG, founded in 1998, operated as a drug discovery company focused on developing treatments for neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, and chronic inflammatory diseases. The firm was established as a spin-off from the National Research Center for Environment and Health in Munich. Its initial business strategy centered on creating a comprehensive genomics platform through a large-scale mouse mutagenesis program. This involved using chemical mutagenesis to generate mouse models with specific genetic mutations, which were then used to analyze gene function in relation to various diseases.

Pivoting from its genomics platform, Ingenium shifted its focus toward internal drug discovery and development. This strategic change led to the creation of a kinase inhibition program aimed at inflammation, which became a primary asset for the company. The business model evolved to leverage its expertise in proprietary genetic and pharmacological animal models to identify and validate novel drug targets. On June 25, 2007, Ingenium Pharmaceuticals was acquired by Probiodrug AG in a stock-based transaction, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary. The acquisition was primarily driven by Probiodrug's interest in broadening its own pipeline with Ingenium's inflammation-focused kinase program. Following the acquisition, Ingenium's founder, Hans-Ulrich Demuth, who was also a co-founder of Probiodrug, took on the role of CEO at Ingenium in 2007.

Probiodrug AG, Ingenium's parent company, was founded in 1997 by Professor Hans-Ulrich Demuth and Dr. Konrad Glund. Initially, Probiodrug developed a novel therapeutic concept for diabetes, pioneering DP4 inhibitors which became the basis for the gliptin class of antidiabetics. After selling its metabolic assets in 2004, the company reinvested the proceeds to focus on developing treatments for age-related neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease. The company's core scientific approach targets the enzyme Glutaminyl Cyclase (QC), which plays a role in the formation of neurotoxic pGlu-Abeta, a key factor in Alzheimer's pathology. In 2019, Probiodrug AG was renamed Vivoryon Therapeutics.