GLD Partners has secured access to Heligenics’ GigaAssay platform to launch Altagenics, a startup with ambitions to develop first-in-class medicines for muscle-wasting conditions.
Altagenics will use resources from investment firm GLD and functional genomics business Heligenics to develop treatments for sarcopenia and cachexia, conditions that are defined by loss of muscle mass. The indications have attracted some heavy hitters, with Pfizer moving a cachexia candidate into phase 3, but, as it stands, there are still unmet medical needs.
GigaAssay is central to Altagenics’ bid to address those needs. Going beyond standard high-throughput assay systems, the platform can measure the molecular functions of thousands of genetic variants at once. The system is designed to map genetic variation directly to biological impact.
Altagenics has identified GigaAssay as a platform that can generate novel, druglike compounds with the potential to target the molecular drivers of muscle wasting and age-related decline. Beyond the first two indications, the biotech sees opportunities to develop molecules that promote muscle development and regeneration in sports medicine, rehabilitation and metabolic health.
Daniel Gordon, managing director of GLD, set out the aspirations for Altagenics and the broader scope to use GigaAssay across a range of therapeutic areas in a statement announcing the biotech's launch.
“By integrating the GigaAssay into a focused company structure, we can generate actionable datasets that rapidly translate into a differentiated pipeline for major unmet medical needs,” Gordon said. “This is a scalable model we expect to replicate across additional therapeutic areas.”
GLD has shifted its focus in recent years. In 2020, the company described itself as a private investment company with holdings in securities, real estate, operating companies and other asset categories. Today, GLD’s model is to invest in private companies focused on healthcare and biotech innovation. The investor called the launch of Altagenics a significant milestone in its drug discovery strategy.